Rapid GC-FPD determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in Sicilian and Apulian olive oil

A simple and quick method for the determination of dimethoate, parathion-methyl, fenthion, parathion-ethyl, and methidathion in olive oil is described. Analysis was carried out using GC (capillary column 5 m × 0.32 mm × 0.45 μm) with aspecific detector (FPD), after sample extraction with acetonitrile. No cleanup was necessary because there were no interferences in the chromatogram. Recoveries of five pesticides at three fortification levels (1.0, 0.2 and 0.05 mg/kg) were in the range 78–97%. Seventy-nine samples were collected from Sicilian and Apulian individual growers during 2002–2003. Only 16% of the samples contained fenthion in concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 0.73 mg/kg; no other pesticides were detected in the 79 samples.