A method for the determination of 42 pesticide (12 organochlbrines, 9 pyrethroids, 20 organophosphorus compounds and tebuconazole) residues in tea by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is described. Pesticides were extracted from tea with acetonitrile in an ultrasonic bath and purified on a graphitised carbon black column, and then determined by gas chromatography with electron ionization mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode. When the contamination level was in the range 0.01 - 0.8mg/kg, the recoveries ranged from 62.5 % to 120.1 % with the relative standard deviation from 0.7% to 15.1 % for the different pesticides. The detection limit of the method was estimated to be 0.0003 - 06.0092 mg/kg. The method was shown to be linear over the range assayed, 0.004 - 20 mg/kg, with determination coefficients >0.992.
gas chromatography-mass spectrometryteamultiresidue pesticides