Detection of co-formulants in plant protection products using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

Co-formulants are substances that are used in plant-protection products (PPPs) to give the product the necessary functions for field application. However, there is a data gap in terms of residues of co-formulants in food while assessment studies of consumer exposure to co-formulant residues in food are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify co-formulants used in PPPs and assess the presence of co-formulant residues in tomato samples that have been sprayed with these PPPs in the field. The analysis of PPPs and field-treated tomato samples was conducted using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) and a non-targeted analytical workflow. Eight products contained N,N-dimethyldecylamine N-oxide, while bis(2-ethylhexyl)amine was detected in six of the testedPPPs. Residues of bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate and 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid were detected in tomatoes. The findings of this study demonstrate the possible presence of potentially hazardous co-formulant residues in food.