Determination of pesticide residues in wine by SPME and GC/MS for consumer risk assessment

An analytical procedure applying solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the detection of pesticide residues in wine was performed for the determination of 14 of the pesticides most frequently used on grapes (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides). As SPME combines the possibility of a single-step extraction with other advantages (shout sampling times, solvent-free procedure, speedy extraction, low cost and simplicity) it could be successfully used either for screening or routine analysis for detecting pesticides of different chemical classes in wines, even at trace levels. The analytical procedure performed showed minimum detectable quantities ranging from 0.10 mu g/l to 6.0 mu g/l and precision from 9.7% to 18% (as relative standard deviation of 1 mu g/l levels), assuring high sensitivity and precision of analysis. Twenty-one wine samples (10 white wines and 11 red wines) available on the Italian market were analysed with the procedure described and about 57% were positive for one or more pesticides. An approach for consumer risk assessment on the basis of the data obtained was proposed for further assessments of the daily dietary intake of pesticides through wine.