Advancements in internationally accepted standards for radiation processing

Three subcommittees of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) are developing standards on various aspects of radiation processing. Subcommittee E10.01 “Dosimetry for Radiation Processing” has published 9 standards on how to select and calibrate dosimeters, where to put them, how many to use, and how to use individual types of dosimeter systems. The group is also developing standards on how to use gamma, electron beam, and x-ray facilities for radiation processing, and a standard on how to treat dose uncertainties. Efforts are underway to promote inclusion of these standards into procedures now being developed by government agencies and by international groups such as the United Nations' International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI) in order to harmonize regulations and help avoid trade barriers.

Subcommittee F10.10 “Food Processing and Packaging” has completed standards on good irradiation practices for meat and poultry and for fresh fruits, and is developing similar standards for the irradiation of seafood and spices. These food-related standards are based on practices previously published by ICGFI.

Subcommittee E10.07 on “Radiation Dosimetry for Radiation Effects on Materials and Devices” principally develops standards for determining doses for radiation hardness testing of electronics. Some, including their standards on the Fricke and TLD dosimetry systems are equally useful in other radiation processing applications.     

ISO radiation sterilization standards

This presentation provides an overview of the current status of the ISO radiation sterilization standards. The ISO standards are voluntary standards which detail both the validation and routine control of the sterilization process. ISO 11137 was approved in 1994 and published in 1995. When reviewing the standard you will note that less than 20% of the standard is devoted to requirements and the remainder is guidance on how to comply with the requirements.

Future standards developments in radiation sterilization are being focused on providing additional guidance. The guidance that is currently provided in informative annexes of ISO 11137 includes: device/packaging materials, dose setting methods, and dosimeters and dose measurement, currently, there are four Technical Reports being developed to provide additional guidance:

1. 1. AAMI Draft TIR, “Radiation Sterilization Material Qualification”

2. 2. ISO TR 13409-1996, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization — Substantiation of 25 kGy as a sterilization dose for small or infrequent production batches”

3. 3. ISO Draft TR, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization Selection of a sterilization dose for a single production batch” li]4. ISO Draft TR, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization-Product Families, Plans for Sampling and Frequency of Dose Audits.”

     

微波辅助萃取-气相色谱法测定茶叶中的有机磷农药

建立了微波辅助萃取–气相色谱法测定茶叶中甲胺磷、乐果、毒死蜱、水胺硫磷、三唑磷5种有机磷农药残留量的分析方法。样品用乙酸乙酯微波辅助提取,提取液经分散固相萃取法(DSPE)净化,用气相色谱配FPD检测器测定,外标法定量。结果表明农药混合标准溶液在0.01～0.5μg/mL范围内线性良好(r>0.999),方法的检出限为0.005～0.01 mg/L,在0.05,0.125,0.5μg/mL 3个水平添加平均回收率为63.3%～99.9%,测定结果的相对标准偏差为5.1%～8.2%(n=6)。该方法适合于茶叶中多种有机磷农药残留量的同时检测。     

固相萃取–气相色谱–串联质谱法测定茶叶中9种农药残留量

建立固相萃取净化–气相色谱–串联质谱法同时测定茶叶中9种农药残留量的方法。茶叶样品用乙腈均质提取,提取液经固相萃取净化处理后,采用DB–5MS毛细管色谱柱分离,在多反应监测模式下测定,外标法定量。9种农药组分的质量浓度在0.01~0.50 mg/L范围内与其色谱峰面积呈良好线性,相关系数r~2大于0.998,方法测定下限(10 S/N)为0.002~0.01 mg/kg。以空白绿茶、红茶、普洱茶和乌龙茶为基体,在0.05,0.1,0.2 mg/kg 3个添加水平进行加标回收试验,加标回收率在73.6%~99.7%之间,相对标准偏差为4.2%~8.7%(n=6)。该法操作简便、快速,适用于茶叶中多种农药残留的测定。     

茶叶中氟虫腈等8种农药残留的液相色谱-串联质谱法测定及不确定度评定

建立了茶叶中氟虫腈、吡虫啉、啶虫脒、噻嗪酮、三唑酮、三唑醇、丙溴磷、哒螨酮共8种农药残留的液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)测定方法。样品用丙酮-二氯甲烷(1:1, v/v)混合溶剂加速溶剂提取,经石墨化炭黑/氨基(Carb/NH2)固相萃取小柱净化,采用Hypersil Gold C18色谱柱(150 mm×2.1 mm, 5 μm)分离,以乙腈-0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相梯度洗脱,以电喷雾电离(ESI)、多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,采用基质标准曲线同位素内标法(吡虫啉、啶虫脒)或外标法(其余6种农药)定量。氟虫腈在1～100 μg/L、其余7种农药在5～200 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,方法的定量限(信噪比大于10)为氟虫腈2 μg/kg、其余7种农药10 μg/kg。氟虫腈在2、5、50 μg/kg、其余7种农药在10、50、100 μg/kg加标水平下的回收率为75.5%～115.0%,相对标准偏差为2.7%～7.7%。另外,按照JJF 1059-1999《测定不确定度评定与表示》中的有关规定,从标准溶液、样品称量、标准曲线、样品定容、仪器测定重复性、样品前处理等方面对测定结果的不确定度来源进行了评定。评定结果显示,测定结果的不确定度主要源于样品前处理、标准曲线及仪器测定的重复性。该方法的提取效果好、净化较彻底,灵敏度满足国外限量标准的要求,适合出口茶叶中农药残留的测定。     

Estimation of measurement uncertainty of pesticides,polychlorinated biphenyls and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in sediments by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The evaluation of the uncertainty associated to analytical methods is essential in order to demonstrate quality of a result. However, there is often lack of information about uncertainty of methods to estimate persistent organic pollutants concentration in complex matrix. Current work has thoroughly evaluated uncertainty associated to quantification of several organochloride pesticides, PCBs and PAHs in sediments. A discussion of the main contributions to the overall uncertainty is reported, allowing authors to establish the accuracy of results and plan future improvements. Combined uncertainties ranged between 5–9% (pesticides), 4–7% (PCBs) and 5–10% (PAHs), being uncertainty derived of calibration the main contribution. Also, the analytical procedure was validated analysing a standard reference material (IAEA-408).     

基于壳聚糖的QuEChERS-气相色谱-串联质谱法测定人参中30种农药残留

建立了一种以壳聚糖为净化材料的QuEChERS-气相色谱-串联质谱检测人参中30种农药残留的检测方法。探究了吸附剂及其用量对样品提取和净化效果的影响,确定壳聚糖为吸附剂净化。采用选择离子监测(SRM)模式,基质匹配标准曲线外标法定量。30种农药在各自的浓度范围内,线性关系良好(r> 0.996);检出限范围为1.5~3.0μg/kg,定量限范围为5.0~10.0μg/kg。3个添加水平(10,20,100μg/kg)的回收率在84.1%~113.7%之间,相对标准偏差均小于15%。该方法适用于检测人参中农药残留。     

New method for determination of ten pesticides in human blood

An analytical method was developed for precise identification and quantitation of 10 pesticides in human blood. The pesticides studied, which have appeared frequently in actual cases, were endosulfan, lindane, parathion, ethyl-azinphos, diazinon, malathion, alachlor, tetradifon, fenthion and dicofol (o-p' and p-p' isomers). The current method replaces an earlier method which involved liquid-liquid extraction with a mixture of n-hexane-benzene (1 + 1). The extraction is performed by solid-phase extraction, with C18 cartridges and 2 internal standards, perthane and triphenylphosphate. Eluates were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen-phosphorus and electrochemical detectors. Results were confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry in the electron impact mode. Blood blank samples spiked with 2 standard mixtures and an internal standard were used for quantitation. Mean recoveries ranged from 71.83 to 97.10%. Detection and quantitation limits are reported for each pesticide. Examples are provided to show the application of the present method to actual samples.     

Interlaboratory study of a multiresidue gas chromatographic method for determination of organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls in milk,fish, eggs,and beef fat

An interlaboratory study was conducted to validate a gas chromatographic (GC) method for determination of 21 organochlorine pesticides, 6 pyrethroid pesticides, and 7 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners in milk, beef fat, fish, and eggs. The method was performed at low contamination levels, which represent relevant contents in food, and is an extension of the European standard (method NF-EN-1528, Parts 1-4). It enlarges the applicable scope of the reference EN method to pyrethroid pesticides and proposes the use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) as a cleanup procedure. Cryogenic extraction was made, and SPE cleanup was performed with 2 successive SPE cartridges: C18 and Florisil. After injection of the purified extract onto a GC column, residues were measured by electron capture detection. Food samples (liquid milk, beef fat, mixed fish, and mixed eggs) were prepared, tested for homogeneity, and sent to 17 laboratories in France. Test portions were spiked with 27 pesticides and 7 PCBs at levels from 26 to 45, 4 to 27, 31 to 67, and 19 to 127 ng/g into milk, eggs, fish, and fat, respectively. Based on results for spiked samples, the relative standard deviation for repeatability ranged from 1.5 to 6.8% in milk, 3 to 39% in eggs, 4.5 to 12.2% in fish, and 7 to 13% in fat. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility ranged from 33 to 50% in milk, 29 to 59% in eggs, 31 to 57% in fish, and 30 to 62% in fat. This method showed acceptable intra- and interlaboratory precision data, as corroborated by HORRAT values at low levels of pesticide and PCB contamination. The statistical evaluation of the results was performed according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO; ISO 3534 standard) and 5725-2 Guideline.     

Application of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as effective tool for trace analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in honey samples

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was applied for the trace determination of organochlorine pesticides in honey samples. The type and volume of organic extraction and disperser solvents, pH, effect of added salt content and centrifuging time and speed were optimized to find the appropriate extraction conditions. In DLLME, 30 µL of 1,2-dibromomethane (serving as extractant) and 1.5 mL of acetonitrile (serving as disperser) were applied. The limit of detection (3 s) and limit of quantification (10 s) for all the analytes of interest (organochlorine pesticides) varied from 0.004 to 0.07 and from 0.02 to 0.3 ng g^?1, respectively. The extraction recovery ranged from 91 to 100 %, and the enrichment factors ranged from 171 to 199. The relative standard deviation was <6 % for intraday (n = 6) and <8 % interday (n = 4) measurements. The proposed DLLME–GC/MS method was confirmed to be fast, simple to perform, friendly to environment and suitable for analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues at trace levels in honey samples.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in freshwater fishes from a river polluted by e-wastes

Analytical method using mass spectrometric techniques was applied for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in freshwater fishes. Fish samples collected from Nanyang River contaminated by the recycling electron-wastes (e-wastes) materials were prepared by using Soxhlet extraction and multiple-step column chromatographic clean-up. PBDEs were determined by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (for mono- to hepta-BDEs) and quadrupole mass spectrometry (for BDE-209). The method performance was evaluated with the recovery of ¹³C-labeled internal standards and with the analysis of certified reference biota. The obtained recoveries ranged from 75 to 125% with a relative standard deviation of lower than 10% for 16 PBDE congeners. The total PBDE (ΣPBDE) concentrations in fishes showed the following trend: grass carp < mud carp < crucian carp < silver carp < carp. ΣPBDE concentrations in the abdomen, back and tail muscles of carp ranged from 766, 458 and 530 ng/g w.w., and 53, 52, 45 ng/g w.w. in grass carp, respectively. The ΣPBDE concentrations in abdomen muscles were no significantly higher than in back and tail muscles in carp, crucian carp, grass carp and mud carp. PBDE congener concentrations in muscles correlated well with their lipid content. BDE-47 and BDE-28 were the most abundant congeners followed by BDE-17, BDE-15, BDE-66, BDE-154 and BDE-153 in fishes collected from Guiyu.     

Multiresidue analysis of 74 pesticides in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography–electrospray–tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method is described for the determination of 74 pesticides commonly used in crop protection including mainly carbamate, conazole, benzimidazole and pyrimidine fungicides and insecticides. Pesticides residues are extracted from the samples with ethyl acetate. No additional clean-up steps are necessary. Analysis is performed by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry. The method has been validated for various fruits and vegetables matrices. Good sensitivity and selectivity of the method are obtained with limits of quantification of 0.01 mg/kg in almost all cases. Recoveries, RSD and accuracy values of the method fulfilled the criteria of validation commonly admitted. The method was applied very satisfactorily to routine analysis as a complement to traditional GC method. More than 2500 fruits and vegetables samples have been controlled, as a part of the pesticide monitoring program of the “Service de Protection de la Consommation” in Geneva. Quality control systems applied during the assays have demonstrated very good performances and stability with time.     

Analysis of pesticide residues using the Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) pesticide multiresidue method in combination with gas and liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometric detection

The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe multiresidue method (QuEChERS) has been validated for the extraction of 80 pesticides belonging to various chemical classes from various types of representative commodities with low lipid contents. A mixture of 38 pesticides amenable to gas chromatography (GC) were quantitatively recovered from spiked lemon, raisins, wheat flour and cucumber, and determined using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). An additional mixture of 42 pesticides were recovered from oranges, red wine, red grapes, raisins and wheat flour, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for determination. The pesticides chosen for this study included many of the most frequently detected ones and/or those that are most often found to violate the maximum residue limit (MRL) in food samples, some compounds that have only recently been introduced, as well as a few other miscellaneous compounds. The method employed involved initial extraction in a water/acetonitrile system, an extraction/partitioning step after the addition of salt, and a cleanup step utilizing dispersive solid-phase extraction (D-SPE); this combination ensured that it was a rapid, simple and cost-effective procedure. The spiking levels for the recovery experiments were 0.005, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.2 mg kg(-1) for GC-MS/MS analyses, and 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg(-1) for LC-MS/MS analyses. Adequate pesticide quantification and identity confirmation were attained, even at the lowest concentration levels, considering the high signal-to-noise ratios, the very good accuracies and precisions, as well as the good matches between the observed ion ratios. Mean recoveries mostly ranged between 70 and 110% (98% on average), and relative standard deviations (RSD) were generally below 10% (4.3% on average). The use of analyte protectants during GC analysis was demonstrated to provide a good alternative to the use of matrix-matched standards to minimize matrix-effect-related errors. Based on these results, the methodology has been proven to be highly efficient and robust and thus suitable for monitoring the MRL compliance of a wide range of commodity/pesticide combinations.     

Stability of pesticides in plant extracts used as calibrants in the gas chromatographic analysis of residues

The stability of commonly used pesticides in plant sample extracts was evaluated. Matrices differing in the character of coextracts were represented by wheat, oranges and white cabbage. After homogenisation with ethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium sulphate, spiked filtrates were stored for 60 days at 20°C or 40°C. The decrease of concentrations was observed at 20°C after 40 days for chlorothalonil and iprodione in cabbage extracts and some degradation was observed for most organophosphates, iprodione and pirimicarb in orange extracts. At increased temperature (40°C), degradation of most pesticides in the orange and cabbage extracts was observed. No decomposition was noticed for synthetic pyrethroids in all tested extracts. The stability of pesticides in wheat extracts was distinctly higher than that in other extracts. Most pesticides are stable enough to store plant sample extracts several weeks prior to further handling, or to use them as calibrants to avoid matrix-induced enhanced GC response. Some degradation of pesticides, in “pure” ethyl acetate solutions was noticed only for some organophosphates (mevinphos, methamidophos, dichlorvos, heptenophos, pirimiphos-methyl) after 60 days at 40°C.     

基质效应对有机磷农药测定的影响及其解决方法

该文以液液萃取-气相色谱法探讨了基质对乐果、甲基对硫磷、马拉硫磷和对硫磷4种有机磷测定的影响以及解决方法.研究表明,气相色谱法测定有机磷农药的过程中基质效应显著存在,其基质增强比例为1.01 ～3.46.基质效应由基质种类及含量、有机磷农药种类及浓度等因素决定,同时与萃取溶剂、测定条件(如衬管、进样口温度等)有关.不同萃取溶剂对有机磷农药的萃取效率不同,但均存在基质增强效应;当进样口温度为260 ℃时,可最大程度降低基质在衬管中的残留,且不造成有机磷农药的分解;衬管则应首选带玻璃棉的.实际样品/标准样品的交替进样方式可以降低基质效应强度,但难以达到回收率要求,而校正因子校正法及分析保护剂法则是降低或消除基质效应的可行办法.     

Pressurized liquid extraction in determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in fish samples

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is a relatively new technique applicable for the extraction of persistent organic pollutants from various matrices. The main advantages of this method are short time and low consumption of extraction solvent. The effects of various operational parameters (i.e. temperature of extraction, number of static cycles and extraction solvent mixtures) on the PLE efficiency were investigated in this study. Fish muscle tissue containing 3.2% (w/w) lipids and native polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and other related compounds was used for testing. Purification of crude extracts was carried out by gel permeation chromatography employing Bio-Beads S-X3. Identification and quantitation of target indicator PCBs and OCPs was performed by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) with two parallel electron-capture detectors (ECDs). Results obtained by the optimized PLE procedure were compared with conventional Soxhlet extraction (the same extraction solvent mixtures hexane–dichloromethane (1:1 v/v) and hexane–acetone (4:1 v/v) were used). The recoveries obtained by PLE operated at 90–120 °C were either comparable to “classic” Soxhlet extraction (for higher-chlorinated PCB congeners and DDT group) or even better (for lower chlorinated analytes). The highest recoveries were obtained for three static 5 min extraction cycles.     

Determination of multiresidue pesticides in green tea by using a modified QuEChERS extraction and ion-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The pesticide residues in exported and imported tea products must not exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) regulated by the import countries. Tea is a complex matrix that obfuscates the determination of pesticide residues. Many available methods for multiresidue pesticide analysis of tea are time-consuming and require many cleanup steps. The objective of this study was to develop a simple multiresidue method by using a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction and ion-trap GC/MS/MS, which can identify, confirm, and quantify pesticides in complex matrixes. A tea product was homogenized with water, and the pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid. The extract was subjected to centrifugation, initial cleanup with dispersive SPE (dSPE), solvent exchange, and final cleanup with dSPE. Diethyl-d10-parathion and triphenyl phosphate were used as the internal standard and surrogate, respectively. The final extract was injected into an ITQ 700 gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Quantitation of individual pesticides was based on matrix-matched calibration curves with a correlation coefficient of > 0.9930 for the 22 pesticides selected for the study. The recoveries of the 22 pesticides ranged from 78 to 115%, except those for diazinon (130%) and malathion (122%), with an average RSD of 8.7%. The LOD values of all of the pesticides, except for terbufos, were below the MRLs set by the European Union and Japan.     

Multiresidue analysis of four pesticide residues in water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) via pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatographic determination

The primary objective of this study was to simultaneously analyze the residues of the most commonly used pesticides, chlorpyrifos-methyl, endosulfan, EPN, and iprodione in the water dropwort, via accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and conventional solvent extraction (LLE) techniques. Residue levels were determined using GC with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by GC-MS in a selected ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. In none of the ASE and SFE techniques were the extraction conditions optimized. Rather, the experimental variables were predicated on the author's experience. The ECD response for all pesticides was linear in the studied range of concentrations of 0.005-5.0 ppm, with correlation coefficients in excess of 0.9991. At each of the two studied fortification levels, the pesticides yielded recoveries in excess of 72% with RSDs between 1 and 19%. The LODs were achieved at a range of levels from 0.001 to 0.063 ppm, depending on the pesticide utilized. The LOQs, which ranged from 0.003 to 0.188 ppm, were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) authorized by the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). All of the methods were applied successfully to the determination of pesticide residues in the real samples. It could, therefore, be concluded that any of the techniques utilized in this investigation might prove successful, given that the applied extraction conditions are wisely chosen.     

Automated at-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatographic analysis of micropollutants in water using the PrepStation

A fully automated at-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography procedure has been developed for the analysis of aqueous samples using the PrepStation. The sample extract is transferred from the sample preparation module to the gas chromatograph via an autosampler vial. With flame-ionization detection, limits of determination (S/N=10) of 0.05–0.13 μg/l were obtained for the analysis of HPLC-grade water when modifying the PrepStation by: (i) increasing the sample volume to 50 ml, (ii) increasing the injection volume up to 50 μl, and (iii) decreasing the desorption volume to 300 μl. The HP autosampler had to be modified to enable the automated “at-once” on-column injection of up to 50 μl of sample extract. The amount of packing material in the original cartridge had to be reduced to effect the decrease of the desorption volume. The total set-up did not require any further optimization after having set up the method once. The analytical characteristics of the organonitrogen and organophosphorus test analytes, i.e. recoveries (typically 75–105%), repeatability (2–8%) and linearity (0.09–3.0 μg/l) were satisfactory. The potential of the system was demonstrated by determining triazines and organophosphorus pesticides in river Rhine water at the 0.6 μg/l level using flame-ionization and mass-selective detection. No practical problems were observed during the analysis of more than 100 river water samples.     

固相萃取-超快速液相色谱-串联质谱法测定当归中135种农药及其代谢物残留

建立了超快速液相色谱-串联质谱(UFLC-MS/MS)同时测定当归药材中135种农药及其代谢物(包括有机磷类、氨基甲酸酯类、拟除虫菊酯类农药等)残留量的分析方法。以回收率为考察指标,评估了不同的提取溶剂、固相萃取小柱、洗脱溶剂及体积对当归中多农残的提取净化效果,最终确定样品经乙腈提取,PSA固相萃取柱净化处理,在电喷雾正离子扫描、依赖保留时间的多反应监测模式(scheduled MRM)下,以基质匹配校准曲线内标法定量。结果表明,135种农药及其代谢物在各自的浓度范围内线性关系良好(r>0.99); 3个添加水平(10、50、100 μg/kg)下,除了烯草酮回收率偏低(62.0%~68.2%)外,其余农药的回收率为71.3%~119.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD, n=6)不大于19.9%, 135种农药及其代谢物的定量限为1.0~10.0 μg/kg。该方法样品前处理简单、快速、灵敏,可用于当归药材中多类别农药残留量的定性、定量。