DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN VEGETABLES USING GC-ECD WITH QuEChERS EXTRACTION

Pesticide residues present in primary and secondary agricultural products pose potential risks to human health. This study aimed to develop and validate an analytical method for assessing pesticide residues in commonly consumed vegetables from the Syrdarya region. Five vegetable samples were processed and analyzed for the separation and quantification of various pesticides using gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). An internal standard method was applied in accordance with international validation requirements for pesticide residue analysis in vegetable matrices. The method demonstrated excellent performance characteristics within globally accepted validation criteria, particularly at low concentration levels (0.02 µg/kg). High sensitivity, good linearity, and satisfactory precision were achieved. Among the five analyzed vegetable samples (hot pepper, cucumber, potato, bell pepper, and tomato), pesticide residue levels in four samples were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the Republic of Uzbekistan. However, in one tomato sample, the detected pesticide concentration exceeded the permissible limit. Although the overall contamination levels were moderate, continuous dietary exposure to pesticide residues may pose long-term health risks. Therefore, adherence to good agricultural practices (GAP) and pesticide safety regulations is strongly recommended. Continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in food products is also essential. Furthermore, the validated method can be effectively applied for the determination of pesticide residues in other vegetables, fruits, and cereal products.