HPLC-MS/MS monitoring and health risk assessment of carbosulfan and its metabolites in date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera)

This study investigated residual levels of carbosulfan and its metabolites in date palm fruit in the UAE using HPLC-MS/MS and QuEChERS method. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² > 0.998), low LOD (0.001–0.04 μg/kg) and LOQ (0.003-0.1 μg/kg), and high recoveries (92-103%) with low RSD values (1–9%). The matrix effect was negligible (-16.43–17.09%), and uncertainty measurements did not exceed the 50% limit. Carbosulfan was present in all samples, exceeding its MRL in 46% of the samples. Carbofuran and 3-hydroxycarbofuran exceeded their MRL in 4.87% and 40% of the samples, respectively, while 3-ketocarbofuran levels were below the MRL. Dibutylamine was found in 82% of the samples, with an average concentration of 9.01 µg/kg. The health risk assessment for children and adults showed that all HQ values were below the safety limit of 1.0, indicating that date consumption poses no adverse health risks for either adults or children.