Chromatographic analysis of imazalil and carbendazim in fruits. Method validation and residue monitoring program 1995.

A single and simple procedure for the determination of both carbendazim and imazalil is described. The proposed analytical methodology is based on a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and further analysis with HPLC-UV in the case of carbendazim, and GC-nitrogen-phosphorus detection in the case of imazalil. Detection levels have been 0.01 mg/kg for carbendazim and 0.005 mg/kg for imazalil. Recoveries have been no less than 77% for carbendazim and 92% for imazalil. The method has been validated with fortified samples at different concentration levels. Different confirmation criteria have been studied and applied in routine analysis. The analytical procedure proposed has been applied to the analysis of 200 fruit samples belonging to the Residue Monitoring of Hygiene Food Program 1995 of the Spanish Ministry of Health, which has been performed in our laboratory. The results obtained have confirmed the viability of the method in routine analysis for these pesticides. A first evaluation of the presence of residues of both fungicides in fruits produced in Spain has been made.