Ecochemical Assessment of Synthetic Pesticide Residues in a Tomato Sample Grown in Azerbaijan: Analysis of Plant Extract-Based Biopesticides as a Promising Alternative
Nigar Hashimova¹* 
and Sevinj Hajiyeva¹
Abstract. Synthetic pesticides are widely used in modern agriculture to increase productivity and protect crops from pests, pathogens, and weeds, but their intensive and long-term application may result in pesticide residues in agricultural products and potential risks to human health and the environment. This study aimed to determine pesticide residues in a tomato sample grown in Azerbaijan using the QuEChERS–LC–MS/MS method, assess the analytical result from food-safety and ecochemical perspectives, and examine plant-extract-based biopesticides as potential alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The analytical procedure included sample preparation, citrate-buffered QuEChERS extraction, dispersive solid-phase clean-up, and LC–MS/MS determination using a Shimadzu LCMS-8045 Triple Quadrupole system with a Raptor Biphenyl column. Buprofezin was detected in the tomato sample at a concentration of 0.12 mg/kg. This value was compared with the applicable maximum residue level (MRL) for the intended European market, and the result was classified as non-compliant according to the source data. The findings demonstrate the importance of regular pesticide-residue monitoring and risk-based assessment of agricultural products. The literature review further indicates that plant-extract-based biopesticides may contribute to more sustainable crop-protection strategies, although their efficacy, stability, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties require case-specific evaluation.
Keywords: pesticide residues, tomato, ecochemistry, QuEChERS, LC–MS/MS, food safety, biopesticides