Determination of pesticides and PCBs in honey by solid-phase extraction cleanup followed by gas chromatography with electron-capture and nitrogen-phosphorus detection.

A multiresidue method for determination of 15 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), six polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and seven organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) is implemented for routine determinations of residues in honey. The method involves solid-phase extraction cleanup and determination by GC-ECD/NPD. Quantitation limits ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 microg kg-1 honey for OCPs and PCBs, and from 5.0 to 25.0 microg kg-1 honey for OPPs. Recoveries of OCPs ranged between 77.4 and 94.0%; for PCBs they were from 63.8 to 73.5%. Recovery assays for OPPs varied from 66.7 to 98.1%. The method was applied to the analysis of 111 honey samples from Aragon, Spain. The results obtained indicated a low level of contamination by pesticide residues and PCBs, which can contribute to ensuring the consumer has a safe wholesome supply of honey.