This research presents the results of stability studies regarding the production of certified reference materials. The residual concentration levels of four pesticides, namely γ-HCH, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, and procymidone were investigated. Pasteurization combined with gamma irradiation was used to maintain the integrity of the mixture tested as a reference material candidate. The pulp was prepared and split into two parts. Each part was then spiked with those pesticides in the concentration range of 0.1 to 0.2 mg.kg-1 in tomato pulp. One of them was submitted to pasteurization at 90 °C for 4 minutes after being homogenized, and the other was irradiated with a gamma dose of 2.0 kGy. The material stability and the corresponding uncertainty during the period of time evaluated were determined using regression analysis and ANOVA. The results indicated that the dose of 2.0 kGy was appropriated for the conservation of tomato pulp spiked with the four aforementioned pesticides.
pesticides; reference material; stability test; irradiation; pasteurization
