New multiresidue method using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–micro-electron-capture detection for pesticide residues analysis in royal jelly

Royal jelly, one of the most important bee products, can be contaminated with pesticide and/or antibiotic residues resulting from treatments applied either inside beehives or in the agricultural environment. A new multiresidue method was developed and validated for analysis of nine pesticides in royal jelly. Solid-phase extraction RP-C18 cartridges were used for sample purification and isolation of analytes. Final solution was analyzed with GC and micro-electron-capture detection. Four synthetic acaricides used by beekeepers (bromopropylate, coumaphos, malathion and τ-fluvalinate), and moreover one pyrethroid, two organochlorine, and two organophosphate insecticides were tested. Linearity is demonstrated for the range of 0.0025–1 mg kg−1, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.99991 to 0.99846, depending on the analyte. Overall recovery rates from royal jelly blank samples spiked at five fortification levels ranged from 80.8% (lindane) to 91.3% (ethion), well above the range defined by the SANCO/10232/2006 and EC/675/2002 documents. The limit of quantification was <0.003–0.005 mg kg−1 depending on the analyte, and the reporting level of the method, defined as the lowest recovery level, was 0.005 mg kg−1.