Preliminary Investigations To Identify Seven Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Honeybee Samples

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are widely used pesticides aimed at controlling harmful insects but can pose significant risks to human health, including potential links to cancer, infertility, and congenital disabilities. Consequently, monitoring NEO residues in food is critical to safeguard public health and support ecological stability. This study presents a newly developed and validated method to measure residues of clothianidin, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid in honeybee samples. The method uses a STRATA XPRO (Solid-Phase Extraction) prepacked column for efficient removal of interferents and concentration of NEOs. Quantification was conducted with a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with a Kinetex C18 column and a Diode Array Detector (DAD). This approach, leveraging STRATA XPRO cartridges, enabled faster processing and delivered high recovery rates. To validate the method, we applied the accuracy profile strategy endorsed by the Commission of the Société Française des Sciences et Techniques Pharmaceutiques (SFSTP) to assess the entire analytical procedure. Results demonstrated recoveries between 70% and 110%, a strong linear correlation between observed and predicted values (R² = 0.999), a quantification limit exceeding the target NEO concentrations, accuracy below 10% (complying with European Commission standards), and over 95% of results falling within ±15% of the acceptance limits. The method's low cost, speed, and operational simplicity support its use for routine analysis.