Determination of low-level pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted on a method for the measurement of 11 low-level pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The pesticide residues determined in this study were alachlor, atrazine, butachlor, isoproturon, malaoxon, monocrotophos, methyl paraoxon, phorate, phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Blind fortification solutions containing 3 different levels of pesticide residues were provided to 9 collaborating laboratories to create test samples at concentrations of 0, 0.1, and 0.5 microg/L with a 10-fold concentration for phorate in a total of 6 matrixes (2 colas, 1 diet cola, 1 clear lemon-lime soft drink, 1 orange soft drink, and 1 sports drink). Good qualitative performance of the method was demonstrated for all pesticide residues. Reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) ranged from 7 to 151% for alachlor, atrazine, butachlor, isoproturon, malaoxon, monocrotophos, methyl paraoxon, phorate, phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and 2,4-D at the 0.1 microg/L level (1.0 microg/L for phorate). At 0.5 microg/L (5.0 microg/L for phorate), RSDR ranged from 9 to 57% for alachlor, atrazine, butachlor isoproturon, malaoxon, monocrotophos, methyl paraoxon, phorate, phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and 2,4-D in all matrixes. Repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr), applicable to the diet cola and sports drink, ranged from 0 to 124% for the 11 pesticide residues at the 0.1 microg/L level (1.0 microg/L for phorate). At 0.5 microg/L (5.0 microg/L for phorate), RSDr ranged from 4 to 26%. Recoveries for the 11 pesticide residues in all matrixes ranged from 84 to 300% at the 0.1 microg/L level (1.0 microg/L for phorate) and from 66 to 127% at the 0.5 microg/L (5.0 microg/L for phorate) level. Coefficients of determination (r2) of the matrix-matched calibration curves were > or = 0.95. It is recommended that the method be accepted by AOAC as Official First Action with a limit of quantification of 0.5 microg/L for alachlor, atrazine, butachlor, isoproturon, malaoxon, methyl paraoxon, monocrotophos, phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and 2,4-D and 5.0 microg/L for phorate.     

Determination of pesticide residues (> 0.5 microg/L) in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted on a method for the measurement of 19 low-level pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The pesticide residues determined were 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4'-DDE); 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (2,4'-DDD); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4'-DDE); 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4'-DDT); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4'-DDT); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (4,4'-DDD); alpha-endosulfan; endosulfan-sulfate; dieldrin; aldrin; ethion; chlorpyrifos; beta-endosulfan; malathion; methyl-parathion; alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH); beta-HCH; delta-HCH; and gamma-HCH. Blind fortification solutions containing 4 different levels of pesticide residues (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 microg/L) were provided to 8 collaborating laboratories who used them to create test samples in 6 matrixes (also provided): 2 colas, a diet cola, a clear lemon-lime soft drink, an orange soft drink, and a sports drink. Reproducibility (RSDR) for all 19 pesticide residues in all matrixes ranged from 7 to 151% at the 0.1 microg/L level, 11 to 121% at 0.5 microg/L, and 14 to 67% at 1.0 microg/L. Repeatability (RSDr), applicable to the diet cola and the sports drink, ranged from 1 to 76% for the 19 pesticide residues at the 0.1 microg/L level, 9 to 38% at 0.5 microg/L, and 9 to 38% at 1.0 microg/L. Recoveries for the 19 pesticide residues in all matrixes ranged from 77 to 645% at the 0.1 microg/L level, 60 to 231% at 0.5 microg/L, and 61 to 146% at 1.0 microg/L. It is recommended that the method be accepted by AOAC as Official First Action with a limit of quantification (LOQ) equal to 0.5 microg/L for 4,4'-DDT; 2,4'-DDT; 2,4'-DDD; 4,4'-DDE; 4,4'-DDD; 2,4'-DDE; aldrin; dieldrin; alpha-endosulfan; endosulfan-sulfate; chlorpyrifos; and ethion, and an LOQ equal to 1.0 microg/L for beta-endosulfan; alpha-HCH; beta-HCH; delta-HCH; gamma-HCH; methyl-parathion; and malathion.     

Development and validation of a multiresidue method for the simultaneous determination of organophosphorus insecticides and their toxic metabolites in sugarcane juice and refined sugar by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection

A multiresidue method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of organophosphorus insecticides and their toxic metabolites in sugarcane juice and refined sugar by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. Limits of quantification of the method varied between 0.007 and 0.01 μg/g. Ethyl acetate based extraction followed by dispersive solid‐phase extraction cleanup with primary secondary amine yielded internationally acceptable recoveries of acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, monocrotophos, malathion, malaoxon, phorate, phorate‐sulfoxide, phorate‐oxon, phorate‐sulfone, and quinalphos from selected matrices. The recoveries of target analytes from cane juice were 75.55 ± 0.5–102.57 ± 4.2, 77.45 ± 4.7–103.33 ± 3.3, and 80.55 ± 6.6–105.82 ± 9.8% at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.1 μg/g levels of fortification, respectively. The recoveries from cane sugar were 73.24 ± 3.5–104.47 ± 1.9, 75.23 ± 1.5–116.10 ± 3.7, and 70.75 ± 5.7–110.15 ± 2.7%, respectively at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.1 μg/g levels of fortification. Matrix effect and measurement uncertainty were within the permissible limit (less than 20%) as prescribed for pesticide residue analysis.     

Dissipation behavior of phorate and its toxic metabolites in the sandy clay loam soil of a tropical sugarcane ecosystem using a single‐step sample preparation method and GC–MS

The dissipation of phorate in the sandy clay loam soil of tropical sugarcane ecosystem was studied by employing a single‐step sample preparation method and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.01 μg/g. The recoveries of phorate, phorate sulfoxide, phorate sulfone, and phorate oxon were in the range 94.00–98.46% with relative standard deviations of 1.51–3.56% at three levels of fortification between 0.01 and 0.1 μg/g. The Half‐life of phorate and the total residues, which include phorate, phorate sulfoxide and phorate sulfone, was 5.5 and 19.8 days, respectively at the recommended dose of insecticide. Phorate rapidly oxidized into its sulfoxide metabolite in the sandy clay loam soil. Phorate sulfoxide alone accounted for more than 20% of the total residues within 2 h post‐application and it was more than 50% on the fifth day after treatment irrespective of the doses applied. Phorate sulfoxide and phorate sulfone reached below the detectable level on 105 and 135 days after treatment, respectively as against 45 days after treatment for phorate residues at the recommended dose. Thus, the reasonably prolonged efficacy of phorate against soil pests may be attributed to longer persistence of its more toxic sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites.     

Determination of low-level agricultural residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection: single-laboratory validation

In this study, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., a method was validated for measurement of 19 pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with mass selective detection The pesticide residues determined in this validation were alpha-benzenehexachloride (BHC); beta-BHC; gamma-BHC; delta-BHC; methyl parathion; malathion; chlorpyrifos; aldrin; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE); alpha-endosulfan; 4,4-DDE; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD); dieldrin; ethion; 4,4-DDD; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDT); beta-endosulfan; 4,4-DDT; and endosulfan sulfate when spiked into a 200 mL matrix sample at 0.50 microg/L. The samples were diluted with acetonitrile and water, then liquid-liquid phase extracted into petroleum ether. The resulting extract was concentrated to near dryness and diluted with hexane:dichloromethane (50:50). The concentrated samples were purified by gel permeation chromatography. The resulting solution was concentrated and separated on a Florisil substrate. The eluent was concentrated to near dryness, reconstituted to produce a 200-fold concentration, and analyzed using a GC/MS instrument operated in the selective ion monitoring mode. The GC/MS instrument was equipped with a large volume injector capable of injecting 25 microL. External standards prepared in dichloromethane were used for quantification without the need for matrix-matched calibration because the extraction step minimized the matrix effects. The calibration curves for all agricultural residues had coefficients of determination (r2) of greater than or equal to 0.9900, with the exception of one value that was 0.988. Fortification spikes at 0.50 microg/L in 3 matrixes (7UP, Gatorade, and Diet Pepsi) over the course of 2 days (4 days for Gatorade), where n=8 each day, yielded average percent recoveries (and percent relative standard deviations) as follows (n=64): 95.6 (24.8) for alpha-BHC; 91.9 (23.6) for beta-BHC; 89.1 (21.3) for gamma-BHC; 91.7 (19.0) for delta-BHC; 96.2 (20.1) for methylparathion; 99.8 (26.5) for malathion; 120 (27.3) for chlorpyrifos; 103 (31.4) for aldrin; 111 (25.8) for 2,4-DDE; 116 (21.1) for alpha-endosulfan; 132 (34.6) for 4,4-DDE; 123 (34.4) for 2,4-DDD; 104 (20.8) for dieldrin; 141 (31.4) for ethion; 107 (24.5) for 4,4-DDD; 142 (29.2) for 2,4-DDT; 130 (35.9) for beta-endosulfan; 146 (25.3) for 4,4-DDT; and 91.5 (21.6) for endosulfansulfate.     

Degradation study of selected organophosphorus insecticides in natural waters

The degradation of 15 organophosphorus insecticides was studied in drinking, ground, and surface waters under different laboratory-controlled and environmental conditions. Surface waters originated from rivers Savinja (near the city of Celje) and Kamniska Bistrica (at the spring), which both belong to the Danube river basin. Groundwater was collected from wells (70?m deep) in Ljubljana, which are the direct source of drinking water for the capital. These matrices were selected on the basis of their different chemical composition and microbial activity. Major factors influencing the degradation were determined, such as temperature, oxygen, sunlight, pH, and type of water. The degradation of atrazine, present in many water sources in Slovenija, was followed simultaneously as a reference under the same conditions. The degradation kinetics was followed by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection, which also allowed the identification of some degradation by-products, such as oxon analogues paraoxon, dyfoxon, malaoxon, phenyl-methyl sulfoxide, fenthion sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and phorate sulfone. The results show that the half-lives of the selected organophosphorus insecticides varied from 4 to 192 days or more, depending on the water source and experimental conditions. As a result, kinetically constants and half-lives were calculated for every tested insecticide, and major degradation products were determined.     

气相色谱法测定土壤中酰胺类除草剂

建立了从土壤中同时提取甲草胺、乙草胺和丁草胺并采用气相色谱法测定的分析方法。采用丙酮-石油醚(2:1,V/V)为提取液,经弗罗里矽硅土固相萃取柱净化,超声30 min、振荡10 min。测定结果显示,甲草胺、乙草胺、丁草胺的保留时间分别为16.333,16.019,20.249 min;线性相关系数>0.9990;6个平行样品在0.10,0.50,0.90 mg/kg的添加水平回收率在84.9%~101.0%之间;对3种酸碱度不同的土壤样品进行了重复测定,得到相对标准偏差(RSD)在0.88%~4.3%之间。方法的检出限分别为甲草胺300 ng/kg,乙草胺400 ng/kg,丁草胺400 ng/kg。定量限分别为甲草胺3.3μg/kg,乙草胺3.9μg/kg,丁草胺3.9μg/kg。方法可同时检测土壤中甲草胺、乙草胺、丁草胺残留量。     

On the signal response of various pesticides in electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization depending on the flow-rate of eluent applied in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The API-MS signal response of several pesticides (atrazine, simazine, isoproturon, diuron, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos, alachlor, trifluralin) depending on the flow-rate of eluent entering the MS interface was investigated. The investigations were based on API-MS-MS analyses of standard pesticide mixtures in the flow injection mode (FIA) at systematically varied eluent flow-rates using both an ESI interface (Turboionspray) and a heated nebulizer type APCI source. In the result, the individual compounds included in this study showed significant differences in their signal response behaviour depending on the flow-rate of eluent applied. The most hydrophobic compounds among the investigated pesticides (chlorpyrifos and trifluralin) showed drastic losses of sensitivity with increasing eluent flow-rate in both ESI and APCI, while more hydrophilic compounds like atrazine, simazine and isoproturon showed the expected signal response (concentration-sensitive in ESI, mass-flow-sensitive in APCI) at least within a certain range of flow-rates (200-600 microl/min in ESI, 200-2000 microl/min in APCI). These findings lead to the conclusion that application of a programmed HPLC eluent flow-rate may be advantageous to achieve maximum sensitivity of API-MS detection for all pesticides of interest. This is exemplified by the implementation of a flow gradient into an online SPE-HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method for improved analysis of pesticides in drinking water.     

Analysis of the chloroacetanilide herbicides in water using SPME with CAR/PDMS and GC/ECD

The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique using a 75 mm film of carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane was applied to the analysis of chloroacetanilide herbicides (acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, metolachlor, and propachlor) residues. The feasibility of SPME with gas chromatography electron capture detection analysis has been evaluated. The effects of experimental parameters such as magnetic stirring, salt addition, humic acid addition, pH value, and extraction time, as well as desorption temperature and time, were investigated. Analytical parameters such as linearity, repeatability and limit of detection were also evaluated. The inhibition of humic acid to the extraction of chloroacetanilide herbicides was observed. A standard addition method for calibration was recommended to reduce deviations caused by matrix interferences. The proposed method provided a simple and rapid analytical procedure for chloroacetanilide herbicides in water with limits of detection 0.002-0.065 microg/L for deionized water, and 0.005-0.22 microg/L for farm water. The relative standard deviations (n = 5) for analyses of farm water were 7-20% for 5 [corrected] microg/L chloroacetanilide herbicides. This application was illustrated by the analysis of sample collected from farm water in the Chung-hwa area, Taiwan.     

Atmospheric pressure glow discharge desorption mass spectrometry for rapid screening of pesticides in food

Flowing afterglow atmospheric pressure glow discharge tandem mass spectrometry (APGD-MS/MS) is used for the analysis of trace amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel. The APGD source was rebuilt after Andrade et al. (Andrade et al., Anal. Chem. 2008; 80: 2646-2653; 2654-2663) and mounted onto a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Apple, cranberry, grape and orange juices as well as fruit peel and salad leafs were spiked with aqueous solutions containing trace amounts of the pesticides alachlor, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, dinoseb, isoproturon, metolachlor, metolcarb, propoxur and simazine. Best limits of determination (LODs) of pesticides in the fruit juices were achieved for metolcarb (1 microg/L in apple juice), carbofuran and dinoseb (2 microg/L in apple juice); for the analysis of apple skin best LODs were 10 pg/cm(2) of atrazine, metolcarb and propoxur which corresponds to an estimated concentration of 0.01 microg/kg apple, taking into account the surface area and the weight of the apple. The measured LODs were within or below the allowed maximum residue levels (MRLs) decreed by the European Union (1-500 microg/kg for pesticides in fruit juice and 0.01-5 microg/kg for apple skin). No sample pretreatment (extraction, pre-concentration, chromatographic separation) was necessary to analyze these pesticides by direct desorption/ionization using APGD-MS and to identify them using MS/MS. This makes APGD-MS a powerful high-throughput tool for the investigation of very low amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel/vegetable skin. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

凝胶渗透色谱-气相色谱质谱法测定：花生中6种除草剂农药残留

建立了凝胶渗透色谱一气相色谱质谱（GPC～GC=MS）法测定花生中6种除草剂（氟乐灵、异恶草酮、甲草胺、二甲戊乐灵、乙氧氟草醚、喹禾灵）农药残留的方法。样品经乙腈提取,氨基固相萃取柱和凝胶渗透色谱净化,在选择离子扫描（SIM）模式下进行气相色谱质谱法测定,外标法定量。6种除草剂浓度在0．02-1．00mg／L范围内与色谱峰面积呈良好的线性,线性相关系数为O．9949～0．9998,添加回收率为77．8％-101．6％,测定结果的相对标准偏差为4．4％～11．4％（月=5）,方法的检出限为0．1～1．3μg／kg。     

QuEChERS method for the simultaneous quantification of phorate and its metabolites in porcine and chicken muscle and table eggs using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method to detect phorate and its metabolites, including phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, phoratoxon, phoratoxon sulfone, and phoratoxon sulfoxide, in porcine and chicken muscles and table eggs was developed and validated. Extraction was performed using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method and analysis was conducted using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. Matrix‐matched calibrations were linear over the tested concentrations, with determination coefficient ≥ 0.995 for all tested analytes in the different matrices. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.001 and 0.004 mg/kg, respectively. The calculated recovery rates at three fortification levels were satisfactory, with values between 74.22 and 119.89% and relative standard deviations < 10%. The method was applied successfully to commercial samples collected from locations throughout the Korean Peninsula, and none of them showed any traces of the tested analytes. Overall, the developed method is simple and versatile, and can be used for monitoring phorate and its metabolites in animal products rich in protein and fat.     

A rapid multi-residue determination method of herbicides in grain by GC-MS-SIM

In this study, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method is successfully developed for the determination of 11 herbicide residues (alachlor, acetochlor, butachlor, pretilachlor, metolachlor, dimethenamid, propachlor, napropamid, propanil, atrazine, and metribuzin) in rice and soybeans. The sample is extracted with acetone-water, degreased by liquid-liquid partition, and purified through solid-phase extraction with Florisil. Experiments on 5 fortification concentrations are carried out, and the limit of determination is 0.02 mg/kg. The average recoveries of soybean samples range from 63.3% to 96.0%, and the relative standard deviations are from 2.14% to 11.2%. The average recoveries of rice samples range from 76.8% to 102% and the relative standard deviations are from 2.2% to 9.08%. The results indicate that the method developed is fast, accurate, and easy to operate. It also demonstrates that the method can meet the requirements of simultaneous determination of 11 herbicides in rice and soybeans.     

气相色谱法测定蔬菜中有机磷农药的残留量

采用DB-1型毛细管柱及氮磷检测器，建立了同时测定蔬菜中有机磷农药甲胺磷、氧化乐果、甲拌磷、甲基对硫磷残留量的气相色谱法，测定4种有机磷农药残留量的线性范围均为0．02-4．00mg／L，相关系数为0．9955～0.9980，检出限为0.0012～0．0020mg／L，加标回收率为89．3％-92．2％，相对标准偏差为2．2％～3．2％。     

A rapid spectrophotometric assay of some organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetable samples

A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of some organophosphorus insecticides, i.e. malathion, dimethoate and phorate is described. It is based on the oxidation of organophosphorus pesticide with slight excess of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and the unconsumed NBS is determined with rhodamine B (lambda max: 550 nm). Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.108-1.08, 0.056-0.56 and 0.028-0.28 microg mL(-1) for malathion, phorate and dimethoate, respectively. The method has been successfully applied for the determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in various vegetable samples.     

气相色谱-质谱法同时测定蔗汁中的莠去津与莠灭净残留量

建立了气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS/SIM)同时测定蔗汁样品中莠去津和莠灭净的方法,并优化了样品前处理和色谱条件.在优化条件下,两种除草剂在0.00-0.60 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,方法的检出限(S/N=3)均为0.001 mg/L.在加标水平为0.050-0.100 mg/L时,两种除草剂的回收率在93%-10...     

Pesticide analysis in toasted barley and chickpea flours

Analytical potentiality of a modified version of the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method has been studied and validated for the extraction of a group of 11 pesticides (ethoprophos, cadusafos, dimethoate, terbufos, disulfoton, chlorpyrifos‐methyl, fenitrothion, pirimiphos‐methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos and fensulfothion) and some of their metabolites (malaoxon, disulfoton sulfoxide, terbufos sulfone and disulfoton sulfone) in toasted barley and chickpea flours. The method involves separation and quantification by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen phosphorus detection (NPD) using triphenylphosphate as the internal standard. Matrix‐matched calibration was carried out for both flours due to the existence of a matrix effect. Linearity, recovery, precision and accuracy studies of the proposed QuEChERS‐GC‐NPD method were evaluated in each sample matrix. Mean recovery values were in the range of 73–118% with relative standard deviation values below 10%. Limits of detection of the whole method were between 0.07 and 57.39 μg/kg. The method was finally applied for the analysis of 14 samples collected in different zones of the Tenerife island. The residues of pirimiphos‐methyl were found in 13 of them, confirming its unequivocal presence by mass spectrometry.     

气相色谱法同时测定粮食中14种有机磷残留量

建立了气相色谱法同时测定粮食中14种有机磷农药残留的方法。样品经乙腈溶解,高速匀浆,振荡提取,离心浓缩定容,气相色谱外标法定性定量。敌敌畏等14种有机磷农药在DB-1701毛细管柱上得到了很好的分离,在浓度为0.05～2.00mg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数r为0.99～1.00,最低检出限为0.01～0.08mg/kg;当添加水平为0.100、0.500、1.000mg/kg 时,回收率为71.2%～113.1% ,相对标准偏差为2.2%～6.9%。方法简单、快速、准确、灵敏,适用于一般检验机构的日常检验需要。     

Immunoaffinity chromatographic method for the detection of pesticides

An immunoaffinity chromatographic (IC) method for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and atrazine was developed. The sensitivity was 1 and 0.1 μg l⁻¹ for 2,4-D and atrazine, respectively, the relative standard deviation was in the range 3–8% and the total assay time per samples was 10 min. IC was combined with three detection systems: spectrophotometric, chemiluminescence and fluorescence. The whole procedure can be fully automated and applied to the quasi-continuous control of pesticide contamination and a rapid assay under out-of-laboratory conditions.