Comprehensive evaluation of cyflumetofen between strawberry cultivation and processing factors: Occurrence, degradation, metabolism and risk assessment.

Abstract

In this study, the residue dynamics of cyflumetofen (CYF) and its metabolite 2-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (B-1) throughout strawberry cultivation and processing were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This technique enabled precise separation and identification of cyflumetofen (CYF, 2.12 min) and its metabolite B-1 (1.35 min), with LOQs of 0.001 mg/kg for both. CYF and B-1 remained stable under frozen and dark storage conditions, persisting in strawberry tissues for up to 59 days. Affected by climate, environment, and strawberry variety, initial CYF residues during cultivation were 0.20-0.46 mg/kg (degradation half-life:1.92-7.07 days), with final residues stabilizing at 0.03-0.36 mg/kg. Additionally, 0.87-50.0% of CYF metabolized into B-1, both showing toxicological effects. Washing reduced their residues in fresh strawberries. Dietary risk assessments (deterministic models) showed processing significantly reduced the dietary risk of strawberry jam to 0.0013-0.0094%.