title: A Multi Residue GC-MS Method for Determination of 12 Pesticides in Cucumber.
abstract: Cucumber is one of the main vegetables in Iranian food basket. A wide range of pesticides are used for crops protection during the cultivation of vegetables such as cucumber due to heavy pest infestation. Analysis of pesticide residues in food and other environmental commodities have become essential requirement for consumers, producers, and food quality control authorities. This study was aimed at determination of pesticides residues in cucumber as a main vegetable in Iranian food basket. A reliable, rapid and accurate method based on spiked calibration curves and modified QuEChERS sample preparation was developed for determination of 12 pesticide residues in cucumber by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The use of spiked calibration standards for constructing the calibration curve substantially reduced adverse matrix-related effects. The recovery of pesticides at 5 concentration levels (n = 3) was in the range of 80.6-112.3. The method was proved to be repeatable with RSD lower than 20%. The limits of detection and quantification for all pesticides were <10 ng/g and <25 ng/g, respectively. The developed method was used for simultaneous determination of the selected pesticides in 60 greenhouse and garden cucumber samples. Among the 60 analyzed samples, 41.7% of them were contaminated with pesticide residues which 31.7% of samples had pesticide residues lower than maximum residue limit and 10% of samples had residue higher than maximum residue limit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy,  Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran-Iran (IAUPS).
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasiri
authors.affiliation: Food and Drug Laboratories Research Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.; Food and Drug Control Laboratories, Food and Drug Deputy, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amirahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy,  Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran-Iran (IAUPS).
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Food and Drug Laboratories Research Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.; Food and Drug Control Laboratories, Food and Drug Deputy, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shoeibi
authors.affiliation: Policy University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khajeamiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kobarfard
keywords: Cucumber; GC/MS; Iran; Multi residue; Pesticide; Spiked calibration curve