Automated headspace GC-MS analysis of ethylene dibromide fumigant residues in fresh fruits.

An automated headspace capillary column GC-MS method using selected ion monitoring was developed for the analysis of ethylene dibromide (EDB) residues in fresh fruits. The method was shown to be rapid, to give good agreement with more conventional methods involving distillative extraction, to be free from interferences and to have a limit of detection of 1 microgram/kg. A small survey of a range of fresh fruits including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and mangoes showed no detectable EDB residues in a total of 45 samples obtained from various retail outlets.