Determination of the Residue Behavior and Risk Assessment of Chlorfluazuron in Chinese Cabbage, Kale, Lettuce and Cauliflower by UPLC-MS/MS

Chlorfluazuron is used as a highly effective insect growth regulator to control a variety of crop pests. However, residues of this pesticide have been shown to be harmful to human health. To evaluate the residual dissipation pattern and risk for dietary intake of chlorfluazuron in various vegetables, a solid phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established to analyze chlorfluazuron residues in Chinese cabbage, Chinese kale, Chinese lettuce, and cauliflower. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and purified using an SPE amino column. The average recovery of the target sample in the analyzed four vegetables was between 75.0% and 104.1%, and the relative standard deviation was between 2.5% and 9.6%. The precision and accuracy of the analysis met the requirements of residue analysis standards. Dissipation kinetic testing of chlorfluazuron in different vegetables showed a half-life of 2.4–12.6 days, with a rapid dissipation rate. The estimated daily intake of the chlorfluazuron was 0.753–1.661 μg/(kg bw·d), and the risk quotient was 0.15–0.35. It showed that chlorfluazuron had a low risk of chronic dietary intake from vegetables in different populations in China. The results of this study has described the degradation rate of chlorfluazuron in four vegetables, evaluated the risk of dietary exposure to Chinese residents. Therefore, it provides supporting data and empirical basis for guiding the reasonable use of chlorfluazuron in vegetable production and in evaluating its dietary intake risk in vegetables.