Monitoring of Pesticides Residues in Italian Mineral Waters by Solid Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Twenty-two pesticides and metabolites, selected on the basis of regional priority lists, were surveyed in thirty Italian mineral waters springs for three years by a procedure based on solid phase extraction in combination with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection. The procedure proved to be simple, sensitive and reliable, the limits of detection and relative standard deviations were respectively in the range of 0.002 - 0.04 μg/L and 3% - 7%, recoveries ranged from 86% to 105% at the European Union Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). Pesticide residues were detected in just one of the ninety water samples analyzed but no one exceeding the MAC. These results demonstrate the good quality of Italian mineral waters, not forgetting the need of constant revision and update of the priority list of pollutants.