Sains Malaysiana 54(11)(2025): 2707-2719

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5411-11

 

Multivariate Analysis of Pesticides in Environmental Samples using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(Analisis Multivariat Pestisid dalam Sampel Alam Sekitar menggunakan Kromatografi Cecair Berprestasi Tinggi)

 

NUSRAT NABI^1,2,*, SHAHIDA GHULAM RASOOL¹ , NURFAIZAH ABU TAHRIM², AZIZA SARWAR³, BIBI SHERINO¹, SAIMA MAHAR¹ & FARKHANDA SHAHID¹

 

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Pakistan
²Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

³Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Balochistan, Pakistan

 

Received: 28 February 2025/Accepted: 15 September 2025

 

Abstract

In the agricultural regions of Quetta district, Pakistan, the concentrations of pesticide residues (diazinon, malathion and aldrin) were measured in vegetable, soil and water samples. A sensitive and simple method has been developed by using a chemometric approach for quantification of three pesticides, namely diazinon, aldrin, and malathion in leafy vegetables by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the modified ultrasonication method, the factor and responses were optimised through a central composite design. Response surface plots show the importance of sample weight and sonication time factor. This method has linearity range of 0.5 mg/kg-2.5 mg/kg, a correlation coefficient of 0.99, and a detection limit ranges between 0.01 mg/kg-3 mg/kg. The recovery ranges between 85%-93.2%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) between 0.86%-11%. This method was applied to a real vegetable sample in the city of Quetta. Soil and water samples were also collected with these vegetable samples in different seasons. The presence of pesticides in soil and vegetable samples pose a serious risk to people who rely on these foods for sustenance. There was no significant correlation amongst the seasonal distribution of pesticides and physicochemical properties of soil indicating different application techniques and/or mechanisms rather than soil characteristics are responsible for the residue’s existence. Therefore, it is advised that continuous monitoring to be conducted in order to control the use of these insecticide in the research area.

Keywords: Chromatography; pesticides; soil characteristics; vegetables

 

Abstrak

Kepekatan sisa racun perosak (diazinon, malation dan aldrin) di kawasan pertanian daerah Quetta, Pakistan, telah diukur dalam sampel sayur-sayuran, tanah dan air. Satu kaedah yang sensitif dan mudah telah dibangunkan menggunakan pendekatan kemometrik untuk kuantifikasi tiga racun perosak diazinon, aldrin dan malation dalam sayur-sayuran berdaun dengan menggunakan kromatografi cecair berprestasi tinggi (HPLC). Dalam pengubahsuaian kaedah ultrasonik, faktor dan tindak balas telah dioptimumkan melalui reka bentuk komposit berpusat. Plot permukaan tindak balas menunjukkan kepentingan berat sampel dan faktor masa sonikasi. Kaedah ini mempunyai julat kelinearan antara 0.5-2.5 mg/kg, pekali korelasi 0.99, dan julat had pengesanan antara 0.01-3 mg/kg. Perolehan semula berjulat antara 85-93.2%, dengan sisihan piawai relatif (RSD) antara 0.86-11%. Kaedah ini digunakan untuk analisis sampel sayuran sebenar di bandar Quetta. Sampel tanah dan air juga dikumpulkan bersama sampel sayuran pada musim yang berbeza. Kehadiran racun perosak dalam sampel tanah dan sayur-sayuran menimbulkan risiko serius kepada pengguna yang bergantung pada sumber makanan ini. Tidak terdapat korelasi yang signifikan antara taburan bermusim racun perosak dan sifat fizikokimia tanah, seterusnya menunjukkan teknik aplikasi dan/atau mekanisme yang berbeza dan bukannya ciri tanah yang bertanggungjawab terhadap kewujudan sisa. Oleh itu, disarankan agar pemantauan berterusan dapat dilakukan untuk mengawal penggunaan racun perosak ini di sekitar kawasan kajian.

Kata kunci: Ciri tanah; kromatografi; plot tindak balas permukaan; racun perosak; sayuran

 

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*Corresponding author; email: nusratmunawarsbku@gmail.com