An Efficient LC-HRMS-Based Approach to Evaluate Pesticide Contamination in Water Bodies with Measurement Uncertainty Considerations  
[PERSON]  
1 HephaeNets Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-65404 Kavala, Greece  
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.G. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.A.) 3 Unit of Environmental, Organic and Biochemical High-Resolution Analysis-Orbitrap-LC-MS, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece  
Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.N. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (V.B.) [PERSON]  
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.G. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.A.) [PERSON]  
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.G. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.A.) 3 Unit of Environmental, Organic and Biochemical High-Resolution Analysis-Orbitrap-LC-MS, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece
with intensive agricultural and aquaculture activities, has elicited considerable concern from scientific and regulatory authorities [7; 8; 9]. Consequently, there is an urgent need for continuous monitoring and accurate assessment of their concentrations. These compounds have the potential to destabilize ecosystems and represent constant hazards to biodiversity due to their bioaccumulation and persistence [10; 11; 12]. Moreover, extended exposure to these pollutants has adverse effects on public health, with certain compounds identified as carcinogenic or harmful [13; 14]. The expansion of aquaculture has resulted in the occurrence of a multitude of contaminants such as antibiotics, microplastics, organophosphate esters and pesticides in the aquatic environment. Specifically, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides have been widely used to mitigate undesirable vegetation, mosses, harmful algae, fungal infections, and parasitic infections in the aquaculture [15]. Yet, pesticides used in agriculture may end up into the aquaculture because of run-off. However, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of these substances in aquatic systems in Greece and Albania [6; 16; 17; 18]. Both countries exhibit significant agricultural and aquaculture activities, rendering these areas susceptible to pollution from associated compounds [19; 20]. Moreover, they have consistently been among the leading producers of fish farming products in the European Union over the past decade [20]. In 2022, Greece ranked fourth in the EU in terms of the total output of farmed aquatic organisms measured in tons of live weight. Greece contributed approximately 13.0% of the EU production, which rendered it the leading aquaculture in terms of revenue among EU countries. The estimated value of Greece's aquaculture output in 2022 is EUR 844 million, accounting for 17.4% of the total earnings in the EU [20]. In contrast, Albania has significantly increased all forms of aquaculture activity, leading to an expansion in aquaculture production. In 2022, the aquaculture sector surpassed 50% of the country's overall fishery production [19; 20]. Based on the above data, and although the vulnerability of such ecosystems to pesticide prevalence is well recognized, comprehensive research on these contaminants within these regions remains insufficient. Additionally, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the application of advanced analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography in conjunction with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to accurately identify and quantify these substances [6]. An essential component of analytical method validation is the comprehensive evaluation of measurement uncertainty, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability of results [21; 22; 23; 24]. This procedure is important for the analytical workflow because measurement uncertainty estimation facilitates the accurate interpretation of results [22; 23].