10.6084/m9.figshare.4737706 Marcello Saitta Marcello Saitta Giuseppa Di Bella Giuseppa Di Bella Maria Rita Fede Maria Rita Fede Vincenzo Lo Turco Vincenzo Lo Turco Angela Giorgia Potortì Angela Giorgia Potortì Rossana Rando Rossana Rando Maria Teresa Russo Maria Teresa Russo Giacomo Dugo Giacomo Dugo Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multi-residual analysis of contaminants in Italian honey samples Taylor & Francis Group 2017 Honey organic pollutants determination GC-MS/MS 2017-03-09 16:48:38 Figure https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/figure/Gas_chromatography-tandem_mass_spectrometry_multi-residual_analysis_of_contaminants_in_Italian_honey_samples/4737706 <p>Contaminants belonging to various classes, including polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroid insecticides (PYRs), fungicides (Fs), herbicides (Hs), synergists (SYNs) and insect growth regulators (IGRs) were analysed simultaneously in honey samples using a new simultaneous, easy and rapid method based on a liquid–liquid extraction with a mixture of <i>n</i>-hexane and ethyl acetate. It allowed recoveries in the range 80–137%, with limits of detection (LODs) between 0.10 and 5.21 ng g<sup>–1</sup>, showing a good sensitivity and accuracy. All the analysed Italian honeys showed the presence of residues of OPPs; PAHs were in 46.8% of the samples and PCBs were always below the LODs; 53.2% of the samples were contaminated by OCPs, PYRs, SYNs and IGRs. In addition, 46.8% of the samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Community in honey for chlorfenvinphos (<i>cis</i> + <i>trans</i>), TPP, γ-HCH, tebuconazole, coumaphos and τ-fluvalinate (<i>cis</i> + <i>trans</i>).</p>