Persistence and degradation of metalaxyl, lindane, fenvalerate and deltamethrin during the wine making process

The persistence and degradation of four acaricides (metalaxyl, lindane, fenvalerate and deltamethrin), used to control pests in vineyards, in experimental must and wine samples, have been studied. Commercial formulations of the pesticides were added to non-settled must and their fate during a common vinification method for white and red wines was investigated. Analytes in the extracts were determined by GC/EIMS after a solid-phase extraction on polymeric cartridges to isolate them from the must and wine samples. It was verified that white wines generally contained higher amounts of residues. Moreover, some degradation products, not reported until now, have been observed in the samples in addition to some compounds – byproducts from the manufacturing and excipients – initially present in the commercial formulations.