ABSTRACT
Chromatographic techniques allow separation and quantitation of trace levels of organic compounds in different matrices. Chromatography is widely used in many scientific areas, including food safety. Currently, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and related techniques have become the dominant analytical separation tools in such areas as pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries and environmental monitoring. Contrary to gas chromatography (GC), HPLC allows to determine low-volatile and thermolabile compounds. A variety of packings and bonded phases as well as eluents and their combinations make this technique very useful in analysis of food contaminants, including pesticide residues. Plant protection products, called commonly pesticides, contain biologically active substances having wide mode of action, used in crop protection and in many other areas. Unfortunately, besides advantages related to their use, it should be taken into account that they are also toxic for humans and environment. As general population is exposed to pesticides mainly through the food, it is necessary to monitor concentrations of these compounds using sensitive techniques for ppm or even ppb levels. This article discusses the advantages of HPLC technique for the residues analysis of some active substances of plant protection products.
