Which method is commonly used to determine the presence of pesticides?

The method commonly used to determine the presence of pesticides is EPA Method 608. This method is specifically designed for the detection and quantification of a wide range of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in various matrices, such as water. It utilizes gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer, allowing for effective separation and identification of these chemical compounds at low concentrations.

The reason EPA Method 608 is the preferred choice is that it is comprehensive in scope, targeting multiple pesticide residues simultaneously, which is particularly beneficial for environmental monitoring and compliance testing. It allows analysts to efficiently screen samples for various pesticide contaminants, facilitating quicker decision-making regarding water quality and safety.

Other methods in the list focus on different contaminants or analytical techniques that are not primarily aimed at pesticide detection, making them less suitable for this specific purpose.