Ultra-trace detection of carbamate pesticides and their metabolites in camel milk using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography: A food safety perspective

Camel milk is a vital dietary component in African and Middle Eastern cultures, particularly in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Therefore, it is crucial to monitor pesticide levels in camel milk samples to maintain high standards of food safety. In this study, 4 carbamate pesticide residues and their metabolites were detected using tandem mass spectrometry coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-MS/MS). Pasteurized and raw camel milk samples were collected from various parts of the UAE, and liquid-liquid extraction was used to extract carbamates and their metabolites from the samples. The method developed for carbamate analysis was validated, and high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision were achieved. The method demonstrates exceptional linearity (R² ≥ 0.997), a low limit of detection (0.0072–0.0578 µg/kg) and limits of quantification (0.0217–0.1753 µg/kg) for all pesticides analyzed. The target pesticides and their metabolites were detected in all milk samples, except for carbaryl (10%), pirimicarb-desamido (9%), and desmethyl-foramido-pirimicarb (9%). Carbamate and metabolite levels were below the maximum residue limit established by the European Union and Codex Alimentarius. These findings show that the camel milk consumers are not at risk from these pesticides. However, there is a need for further research to better understand the transformation of carbamates into their more toxic metabolites during pasteurization process.