A multi-residue method for the determination of 203 pesticides in rice paddies using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

This work reports a rapid, specific and sensitive multi-residue method based on the Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation method and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC–MS-SIM) using one quantification ion and two identification ions for the routine analysis of 203 pesticides in rice paddies. Analyses of fortified rice paddy samples were performed at different levels (0.05, 0.20 and 0.50 mg kg−1). Mean recoveries from five replicates ranged from 75% to 115%, with coefficients of variation lower than 17%. The limit of quantification was in the range of 0.002–0.05 mg kg−1 for the pesticides. 1040 rice paddy samples were analyzed for method application.