GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS analysis followed by risk ranking of mepiquat and pyrethroids in coffee

Abstract

Pesticides used in coffee cultivation may remain behind and pose a risk to humans even after various processing stages of coffee beans (washing, drying, roasting, and grinding). In addition to pesticides applied to battle pests and diseases, mepiquat formation occurs during roasting. A comprehensive LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screening approach to determine pesticides in coffee was used in this study. Residues were extracted using the QuEChERS method and analyzed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry after chromatographic separations. Good linearity (r2˃0.9919), recovery (80.2–118%), and RSD (≤19%) were obtained for the procedure including sample preparation and both instrumental techniques. Nine residues were identified as commonly present in coffee samples collected from supermarkets in Serbia. The human intake risk of pesticides was categorized and prioritized using the matrix ranking scheme. Also, health risk assessment was conducted by calculating acute and chronic hazard indices. Multi-residues were present in 79.2% of samples, whereas mepiquat chloride (88.9%) and permethrin (81.9%) were the most detected residues. Risk ranking classified mepiquat chloride, permethrin, and methiocarb sulfone in a high-risk group. On the other hand, the human health risk assessment indicated no risks in the short- and long-term and no cumulative chronic risk.