Method Validation for Multi-Pesticide Residue Determination in Chrysanthemum

Abstract

The chrysanthemum can be consumed in various forms, representing the “integration of medicine and food”. Quantitative analysis of multi-pesticide residues in chrysanthemum matrices is therefore crucial for both product-safety assurance and consumer-risk evaluation. In the present study, a simple and effective method was developed for simultaneously detecting 15 pesticides frequently used in chrysanthemum cultivation in three matrices, including fresh flowers, dry chrysanthemum tea, and infusions. The calibration curves for the pesticides were linear in the 0.01–1 mg kg−1 range, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for fresh flowers, dry chrysanthemum tea, and infusions were 0.01–0.05 mg kg−1, 0.05 mg kg−1, and 0.001–0.005 mg L−1, respectively. In all selected matrices, satisfactory accuracy and precision were achieved, with recoveries ranging from 75.7 to 118.2% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 20%. The validated method was then used to routinely monitor pesticide residues in 50 commercial chrysanthemum-tea samples. As a result, 56% of samples were detected with 5–13 pesticides. This research presents a method for the efficient analysis of multi-pesticide residues in chrysanthemum matrices.