Enantioselective Behaviors of Chiral Pesticides and Enantiomeric Signatures in Foods and the Environment

Unreasonable application of pesticides may result inresidues inthe environment and foods. Chiral pesticides consist of two or moreenantiomers, which may exhibit different behaviors. This Review intendsto provide progress on the enantioselective residues of chiral pesticidesin foods. Among the main chiral analytical methods, high performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most frequently utilized. Mostchiral pesticides are utilized as racemates; however, due to enantioselectivedissipation, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and chiral conversion,enantiospecific residues have been found in the environment and foods.Some chiral pesticides exhibit strong enantioselectivity, highlightingthe importance of evaluation on an enantiomeric level. However, theoccurrence characteristics of chiral pesticides in foods and specificenzymes or transport proteins involved in enantioselectivity needsto be further investigated. This Review could help the productionof some chiral pesticides to single-enantiomer formulations, therebyreducing pesticide consumption as well as increasing food productionand finally reducing human health risks.