Determination and risk assessment of pesticide residues in lake Amvrakia (W. Greece) after agricultural land use changes in the lake's drainage basin

A monitoring study of pesticides belonging to different chemical families was carried out in Amvrakia lake (West Greece) waters after land use changes in the lake's basin. Based on land-use patterns, nine sampling points were selected. Pesticides were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) using Oasis HLB cartridges and analysed by gas chromatographic techniques with flame thermionic and mass-spectra detection. Pesticides detected during the monitoring survey include eight herbicides (alachlor, atrazine, s-metolachlor, pendimethalin, prometryne, propachlor, simazine, trifluralin) and one metabolite (deethyl atrazine) with concentration levels up to 807?ng?L^?1 (recorded for alachlor), eight insecticides (azinphos methyl, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos methyl, diazinon, dimethoate, fenitrothion, malathion, methidathion) with concentration levels up to 490?ng?L^?1 (recorded for azinphos methyl) and six fungicides (benalaxyl, cyproconazole, fenarimol, pyrimethanil, triadimefon, triadimenol) with concentration levels up to 408?ng?L^?1 (recorded for pyrimethanil). More frequently detected pesticides were atrazine, deethyl atrazine, alachlor, azinphos methyl, chlorpyrifos methyl, diazinon and pyrimethanil. The higher concentrations were measured during spring-early summer period, following seasonal application of pesticides and diminished significantly during winter. Littoral sampling stations presented higher pesticide concentration levels and more frequent detection. Aquatic risk assessment was based on the Risk Quotient (RQ?=?MEC/PNEC) deterministic method regarding three trophic levels: algae, aquatic invertebrates and fish. Non-acceptable risk for 10 compounds was observed when maximum concentrations were used. Compliance to EC environmental quality standards is also discussed.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of free and conjugated estrogens in breast cancer patients before and after exemestane treatment

We report liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometry determination of 12 endogenous estrogens and their intact conjugates in blood and urine and its application to study effects of exemestane treatment on estrogen generation and metabolism in postmenopausal women with estrogen-dependent breast cancer. A 0.5 mL aliquot of each urine or serum sample is fractionated with solid phase extraction to a fraction of free estrogen and another fraction of their conjugates. The reversed phase LC/MS/MS determines dansylated estrogens with positive ionization and intact conjugates with negative ionization. The method provides reproducible separation and limit of detection as low as 1 pg mL⁻¹ for free estrogens and 0.03 ng mg⁻¹ creatinine for the conjugates in serum and urine samples. The method enabled us to acquire unique concentration profiles of 12 endogenous estrogens and their intact conjugates in 30 breast cancer patients before and after one month of exemestane treatment. Exemestane suppressed total serum and urinary estrogens by 11–97% (P < 0.0001) and 8.7–91% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Specifically, these data show that exemestane preferentially suppressed E1, E1-3S, E1-3G, and E2-17G more than other estrogens. Linear regression analysis of estrogen concentrations before and after treatment showed correlation coefficients of 0.8385 (n = 289, P < 0.0001) and 0.8863 (n = 360, P < 0.0001). This study provides urinary and blood estrogen concentration profiles in breast cancer patients to demonstrate the effect of exemestane on estrogen generation, supporting inhibition of aromatase activity.     

Application of the molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction to the organophosphate residues determination in strawberries

This study describe an analytical method employing gas chromatography (GC) using flame photometric detection that has been developed for the simultaneous determination of organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, disulfoton, parathion, chlorpyrifos and malathion) in strawberry samples. For this purpose, molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction was applied as a sample preparation technique. The method was linear in the ranges from 0.10 to 1.00?μg?g^?1, for diazinon, disulfoton, parathion and chlorpyrifos, and 0.10 to 2.00?μg?g^?1 for malathion with r?>?0.99. The detection limits (LD) ranged from 0.02 to 0.05?μg?g^?1. Recovery studies yielded average recoveries in the range of 65.25 to 87.70?%. These results showed the potential of this technique for organophosphate residue monitoring in strawberry samples.     

Predicting the cross-reactivities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ELISA by regression analysis and CoMFA methods

Immunoassays have been regarded as a possible alternative or supplement for measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. Since there are too many potential cross-reactants for PAH immunoassays, it is difficult to determine all the cross-reactivities (CRs) by experimental tests. The relationship between CR and the physical-chemical properties of PAHs and related compounds was investigated using the CR data from a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit test. Two quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) techniques, regression analysis and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), were applied for predicting the CR of PAHs in this ELISA kit. Parabolic regression indicates that the CRs are significantly correlated with the logarithm of the partition coefficient for the octanol-water system (log K _ow) (r ² = 0.643, n = 23, P < 0.0001), suggesting that hydrophobic interactions play an important role in the antigen-antibody binding and the cross-reactions in this ELISA test. The CoMFA model obtained shows that the CRs of the PAHs are correlated with the 3D structure of the molecules (r _cv ² = 0.663, r  ² = 0.873, F _4,32 = 55.086). The contributions of the steric and electrostatic fields to CR were 40.4 and 59.6%, respectively. Both of the QSAR models satisfactorily predict the CR in this PAH immunoassay kit, and help in understanding the mechanisms of antigen-antibody interaction.     

Relative performance of immunochemical (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and gas chromatography-electron-capture detection techniques to quantify polychlorinated biphenyls in mussel tissues

Results from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) analyses of mussel tissue extracts by immunoassay (PCB RaPID Assay^®) and conventional gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) are described and compared. Mussels from natural populations with diverse concentrations of PCBs, mussel tissue fortified with technical Aroclor^® 1254 and a certified reference material are included.A strong correlation is reported between “total” PCBs quantified by both techniques (r²=0.95, n=27). Immunoassay results, however, exhibited lower values compared to GC-ECD, particularly when GC results are corrected for procedural recovery. A reduced antibody response, due to differences in the congener composition between the mussel extracts and Aroclor^® 1254 (used to raise and calibrate the ELISA), provides the most likely explanation for this difference. Non-parametric statistical analyses confirmed that, although differing from Aroclor^® 1254, PCB congener compositions in the mussel extracts most closely resemble that of Aroclor^® 1254. At very high PCB concentrations (>30 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), however, ELISA results are statistically different (P<0.01) from GC-ECD results, which is likely to be related to the solvation capacity of ELISA diluent. Similarity analysis showed high correlations between the most prominent congeners in Aroclor^® 1254 and immunoassay results. This analysis did not, however, identify a specific chlorine substitution pattern to which the immunoassay preferentially responded.Whilst GC-ECD affords the capability to quantify individual congeners of different reactivity and toxicity, the data reported do indicate that immunoassay offers a rapid and inexpensive alternative method for estimation of “total” PCBs at environmentally significant levels. It is, however, necessary to remove extraneous lipids to reduce matrix effects in the immunoassay.     

Improved methods for urinary atrazine mercapturate analysis--assessment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method utilizing online solid phase extraction (SPE)

Elimination of interfering substances in urine by solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to analysis resulted in 10-fold improvement in the sensitivity of atrazine mercapturate (AM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) compared to previous reports. Of the two tested SPE systems, Oasis^® HLB and MCX, the mixed-mode MCX gave good recoveries (82%) of AM in spiked samples measured by ELISA, whereas the reverse-phase HLB phase was not compatible with the immunochemical method. At relatively high concentrations of urinary AM (>20 ng mL⁻¹), sample dilution was effective enough for the elimination of interfering substances. The new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method developed for AM utilizes online-SPE with Oasis^® HLB, column switching and a stable-isotope internal standard. The limit of quantification (0.05 ng mL⁻¹) indicates improved sensitivity compared with most previously published LC-MS methods for AM. Validation of all three methods, LC-MS, ELISA + SPE and ELISA + dilution with spiked urine samples showed good correlation between the known and measured concentrations with R² values of 0.996, 0.957 and 0.961, respectively. When a set (n = 70 plus 12 blind duplicates) of urine samples from farmers exposed to atrazine was analyzed, there was a good agreement (R² = 0.917) between the log normalized data obtained by ELISA + SPE and LC-MS. High correlation among the data obtained by the two tested methods and the LC-MS method by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), together with low variability among the blind duplicates, suggests that both methods reported here would be suitable for the analysis of urinary AM as a biomarker for human exposure of atrazine.     

A modified quick,easy, cheap,effective, rugged,and safe method for determination of by-products originating from ozonation of chlorpyrifos and diazinon spiked in cherry tomato and perilla leaf

In this study, sample pretreatment methods have been developed for the determination of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and their by-products present in cherry tomato and perilla leaf using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To optimize a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method, the recoveries at each step were evaluated. The steps improved the recoveries of chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos oxon, diazinon, diazoxon, and 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol up to 80% or more by removing interferents, but diethyl phosphate was almost lost during the partition procedure, and the 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol recovery was below 65%. Therefore, the compounds were evaluated using different solvent compositions based on a quick polar pesticides method; note that 100% methanol showed acceptable extraction results. The optimized method provided method detection limits ranging from 0.03 to 1.22 ng/g and good linearities (R² > 0.996). The recovery values were between 82.1 and 113.3%. The intra- and interday reproducibility was evaluated to be within 8.6 and 9.9%, respectively. The method was applied to determine the degradation efficiency of chlorpyrifos and diazinon and their by-products formed during plasma treatment.     

Comparative quantitative study of DDT and its metabolites in human milk by gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometric detection

Summary Comparative analytical quantitation of DDE, DDD, and DDT in human milk, by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric and electron capture detection (GC-MS and GC-ECD) has been studied by use of 513 samples of milk from lactating mothers participating in a World Health Organization special study. Although Correlation between thep,p-DDE concentrations measured by GC-ECD and GC-MSD was excellent (r=0.950,P<0.0001) and correlation was significant and moderate forp,p-DDD andp,p-DDT, the best precision was obtained by use of GC-MS. This study has therefore demonstrated that GC-MSD is a useful tool for determining the concentration of DDT and its metabolites, because it enables simultaneous detection and confirmation.     

Electrospun terpolymeric nanofiber membrane for micro solid‐phase extraction of diazinon and chlorpyrifos from aqueous samples

The present study deals with the synthesis and electrospining of a new terpolymer nanofiber in order to determine the amount of diazinon and chlorpyrifos in water and fruit juice samples. The synthesized terpolymer and the prepared nanofiber were characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The performance of terpolymer nanofiber, prepared as a sorbent for micro solid phase extraction was investigated for the extraction of diazinon and chlorpyrifos from aquaeous media. Then, the target analytes were desorbed from the coating with an organic solvent and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Extraction efficiencies were significant (>90%) under the optimum condition. The proposed method also demonstrated good linear dynamic ranges for diazinon and chlorpyrifos (3–250 and 5–200 µg/L), and low limit of detections (0.5 and 0.7 µg/L) respectively. Moreover, under optimum condition for extraction of diazinon and chlorpyrifos, square of correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9978 and 0.9953 and relative standard deviations of 4.6 and 5.1% were achieved, respectively. The recoveries for diazinon and chlorpyrifos were in the range of 85–97%.     

Fluorescent humic substances–arsenic complex in well water in areas where blackfoot disease is endemic in Taiwan

The relationship between the four components, (1) fluorescence intensity, (2) arsenic concentration, (3) pH and (4) total dissolved solids, (TDS) measured in well waters from areas in Taiwan where blackfoot disease (BFD) is endemic was studied, as well as the relationships between the four degrees of BFD and each of the above four symptomatic components, in order to evaluate the etiological factors of BFD more progressively. The following 95% confidence intervals were obtained in well water samples (n = 1189): fluorescence intensity, 26.837–32.570; arsenic concentration, 0.103–0.127 mg dm^?3; pH, 7.466–7.519; and TDS 733.063–801.647 mg dm^?3. Fluorescence intensities of the four degrees of BFD were not all the same (F = 64.54, P < 0.001), and nor were arsenic concentrations (F = 72.03, P < 0.001), pH values (F = 7.30, P < 0.001), nor TDS values (F = 10.76, P < 0.001). In addition, multiple comparisons indicate that the higher the epidemical degree, the higher the fluorescence intensities, arsenic concentrations and pH values become; however, such a relationship is not found for TDS values. Moreover, the fluorescence intensities have positive linear correlations with arsenic concentrations (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), pH (r = 0.25, P < 0.001), and TDS (r = 0.18, P < 0.001), as do the arsenic concentrations with pH (r = 0.22, P < 0.001). Of the four epidemical degree groups, pairs are not significantly different from one another in correlation coefficients between fluorescence intensity and arsenic concentration, which implies a steady relationship between fluorescent compounds and arsenic. We conclude that fluorescent compounds in well water, as possible etiological factors of BFD, are closely related to arsenic along with pH and TDS values in the areas where BFD is endemic. In addition, we infer that a complex is formed by fluorescent compounds, arsenic and other metals.     

Development of an ELISA procedure to study sorption of atrazine onto a sewage sludge-amended luvisol soil

Pesticides may contaminate ground and surface waters and one of the major factors governing this property is soil sorption. Sorption can be assessed by batch equilibrium technique which produces lots of extracts with high dissolved organic carbon concentration in which the pesticide concentration has to be determined. We developed an ELISA procedure to analyse atrazine based on polyclonal antibodies (C193) for which tracer structure and dilutions of immunochemical reagents were adapted to fit the purpose. After a 1000-fold dilution (or after an SPE clean-up procedure) extracts of a sewage-sludge amended luvisol (used as an example application of the methodology developed) could be reliably analysed. The Freundlich model is able to describe adsorption for this system (r² = 0.977) delivering a distribution coefficient K_F of 1.6 ± 0.2 (mg kg⁻¹) (mg L⁻¹)^−N and an isotherm nonlinearity factor N of 0.70 ± 0.09.     

A method for lactate and pyruvate determination in filter-paper dried blood spots

Lactic acidemia is commonly associated with severe diseases in pediatric patients. Quantitation of blood lactate and pyruvate is important for the diagnosis and clinical management. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method using dried blood spots (DBS) was developed and could be used for simultaneous quantification of blood lactate and pyruvate. The applicability of the developed method was tested and confirmed by the regression analysis between LC–MS/MS method and enzymatic assay. Lactate and pyruvate were extracted from DBS obtained from 580 full-term, 120 pre-term infants (gestations ranging from 24 to 36 weeks), and 65 patients with suspected lactic acidemia, with methanolic internal standard (IS) solutions of sodium l-lactate-¹³C₃ and pyruvate-¹³C₃. An API-2000 LC–MS/MS system with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was applied. The within-run and between-run precisions (CV%) were determined and the results were 1.9% and 3.9% for lactate (n = 20) and 5.7% and 7.3% for pyruvate (n = 20). The linearity of lactate (r = 0.9986) and pyruvate (r = 0.9973) based on the IS was excellent. The parameter r squared (r²) of linear regression between LC–MS/MS method and enzymatic assay was 0.9405 for lactate and 0.9447 for pyruvate, respectively, and the agreement between these methods was consistent and acceptable. The stability of lactate and pyruvate on DBS was also confirmed. The LC–MS/MS method we developed is a specific, sensitive, and reproducible method for measuring blood lactate and pyruvate concentrations. The use of DBS in this method makes it particularly attractive for pediatric patients.     

Development of an electrochemical method for the rapid determination of microbial concentration and evidence for the reaction mechanism

A rapid amperometric method for the determination of microbial concentration is described. The micro-organisms reduce the redox mediator, potassium hexacyanoferrate(III), which is reoxidized to yield a current proportional to the microbial concentration. Escherichia coli gave a linear response (standard error (S_YX)=0.17, r=0.9999, n=5, P>99.9%) over the concentration range 10⁶–10⁸ cells ml^?1 with a response time of less than 1 min. The effect of varying temperature showed that the electrochemical response of the bacteria was linked to respiration rate. Studies with respiratory inhibitors suggested that hexacyanoferrate (III) is reduced by the segment of the respiratory chain between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase and the terminal oxidases.     

Comparison of purge and trap GC/MS and spectrophotometry for monitoring petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in oilfield produced waters

Results of using a field spectrophotometer and its appropriate protocols as a surrogate method for an oilfield produced water treatment process is presented. Methylene chloride extractions of the produced water before and after treatment maintained a yellow color pigment that was directly proportional to the hydrocarbon concentration. From this, an absorption spectrum and standard curve were developed. A resultant linear plot of the standard curve indicated that there is an excellent correlation (r²=0.9847) between the varying concentrations and the associated absorbance values at a wavelength of 400 nm. Total n-alkane concentration comparisons between the laboratory GC/MS analysis and the spectrophotometry analysis generated data of similar accuracy and precision at concentrations ranging from 1 to 137 mg/l (alpha=0.05). Linear comparisons between GC/MS and spectrophotometric coefficients were near unity, with the constant being near zero, with a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.99. Based on this study, spectrophotometry is a complimentary method to GC/MS for determining total n-alkane concentrations in oilfield produced water samples.     

Electrofusion of protoplasts modified by protein adsorption

The synergistic influence of proteins at lowest concentrations (below mg ml⁻¹) on barley protoplast electrofusion together with dielectrophoresis for adhesion of protoplast membranes has been studied by determination of the relative electrofusion yield F_r, which allows further insight into `protein modified electroporation and electrofusion'. As a general rule all proteins with isoelectric points pI>8 stimulate fusion: F_r>1 in buffer free mannitol solution (pH 6.5) reaching levels at F_r=2∼3. Proteins with pI<8 show at lowest concentrations (<1 mg ml⁻¹) also a stimulating effect: F_r>1 followed by the inhibition of F_r—sometimes reaching zero—accompanied by rising conductivity with increasing concentrations. These results are important for resealing, insertion, transfection and the role of integral membrane proteins for the mechanism of fusion.     

Simultaneous Determination of Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos in Pesticide Formulations,in Soils and Waters by Derivative Spectrophotometry and Ratio Spectra Derivative

Abstract

A new method is described to analyse a binary mixture of atrazine and chlorpyrifos, using first-derivative spectrophotometry for atrazine and first derivative of the ratio spectra for chlorpyrifos. The procedure does not require any separation step. Calibration graphs were linear up to 15 μg.mL^?1 of atrazine and to 10 μg.mL^?1 of chlorpyrifos. The method has been applied to determine both compounds in pesticide formulations, in soils and waters.     

Voltammetric characteristics of diazinon on carbon paste electrode modified with tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt(II) iodide

In this study, cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric methods were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of diazinon at carbon paste electrode modified with tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt(II) iodide ([Co(en)₃]I₂). Cobalt complex showed an anodic peak at 620 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl, in KNO₃ 0.1 M as supporting electrolyte) at carbon paste modified electrode. In the presence of diazinon, anodic peak intensity increased with increasing concentration of diazinon that confirmed electrocatalytic activity of cobalt complex for oxidation of diazinon (EC’ mechanism). Under optimized conditions, a linear calibration curve for diazinon was obtained in the range from 0.05 to 27 mg/L with detection limit 0.0075 mg/L (3S _b /m). Applications of the modified electrode to the determination of diazinon in different water samples were also tested. The results showed a very good precision (RSD < 0.04%) and very stable voltammetric response towards diazinon.     

The determination of mercury in whole blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An inductively coupled mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) method for the determination of mercury in whole blood and urine was developed. Gold and dichromate in hydrochloric acid were evaluated as agents to reduce mercury spray chamber memory. Dichromate with hydrochloric acid was found to be superior to gold. We evaluated the rapid introduction of sample to promote equilibrium and the rapid introduction of wash solutions after the sample analyses to minimize mercury memory. This ‘fast pump’ mode (2.5 ml/min) was used for 20 s at the beginning and end of each sample-wash cycle. The mercury detection limit is 0.15 μg/l in the original sample before dilution. Regressions and correlation coefficients for ICP-MS vs. target concentrations for interlaboratory comparison samples from the Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec were: whole blood: y=1.0x−0.6; r=0.9801; n=27 and urine: y=0.84x+8; r=0.9915; n=42. Patient samples were analyzed by ICP-MS and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Regressions and correlations for patient samples were: urines: y=0.93x+1; r=0.8763; n=456 and whole blood: y=1.1x+0.2; r=0.9357; n=251. ICP-MS correlation with CVAAS for 29 urine samples containing 15–150 μg Hg/specimen was: y=0.94x+4; r=0.9864.     

The distance distribution of radical—paramagnetic ion pairs studied by the electron spin echo method. Spatial regularities of radical diffusion in glassy alcohols

Applications of the electron spin echo (ESE) technique to determine the distance distribution function for radical-ion pairs stabilized in solids are described. The ESE signal intensity depends on the ion spin-lattice relaxation time T₁, thus on temperature, as well as on the function n(r),n(r) can be determined up to a distance of 50 A. At r < 10 - 20 A it is possible to estimate the portion of radicals stabilized at these distances in the vicinity of a paramegnetic ion. The photochemical reaction Fe³⁺ + R₂CH(OH)→Fe²⁺ +_R₂C(OH) + H⁺ has been studied in glassy methanol and isopropanol. The pair distribution function n(r) has been obtained at 17 < r < 26 A. Its changes induced by radical diffusion have been studied. The portion of radicals stabilized at distance r < 17 A was about 80% for both alcohols.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatographic strip for rapid detection of atrazine in water samples

We have developed a heterologous direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic (ICG) strip for the determination of the herbicide atrazine in water samples. The ELISA had a half-maximum inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of 0.12 ng mL^?1 and a limit of detection (LOD, calculated as the IC₁₅ value) of 0.01 ng mL^?1. The average of recoveries for all spiked water samples was 96.5%. There was a good correlation between the data determined by this ELISA and those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (r ² ?=?0.996). The visual LOD of the ICG strip assay was 2 ng mL^?1. The assay process only took 10 min, and no sample pretreatment was required. Its high specificity, sensitivity and fast detection made the strip well suited for on-site screening of atrazine in water samples. Both the ELISA and the ICG strip assay are useful for rapid analysis of a large number of water samples at low cost.