Sulphonamide Residues in Italian Surface and Drinking Waters: A Small Scale Reconnaissance

The occurrence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment is an important emerging issue due to potential adverse effect of these compounds on ecosystem and human health. For a correct environmental risk assessment there is a need for appropriate analytical methods for monitoring antibiotic residues in a variety of water matrices. This paper describes a method for the determination of eleven sulphonamide compounds in surface and drinking waters using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries of the analytes in both surface and drinking water matrices at different fortification levels, always exceed 87%; the limits of quantification in surface water samples are between 0.005 and 0.021 μg L⁻¹ depending on the compound, and the interday method precision is less than 12%. Matrix effects were evaluated in drinking and surface water samples. The method has been applied to a small scale reconnaissance of river, lake, mineral and municipal water samples; results indicate the occurrence of sulphonamides in some surface and mineral waters analyzed.     

Characterization of Carbamate Pesticides in Natural Water from Cameroon

With the increased use of chemicals in agriculture for crop protection and improvement of yield, the contamination of water is currently a serious health concern. This study used solid-phase extraction with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to evaluate the presence of 23 carbamate pesticides in waters from Cameroon. The separation was achieved in 5.5?min using a C₁₈ column (50?×?2.1?mm, 1.8?µm) with a mobile phase composed of water and methanol each containing 0.01% formic acid. The analytes were determined in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. The recoveries for fortified water were from 75 to 99%, with relative standard deviations below 13%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.003 to 0.397?µg?L^?1. The reported method is simple, sensitive, and accurate, and is a suitable alternative for routine monitoring of pesticide residues at ultra-trace levels. The analysis revealed the presence of propoxur at a concentration of 0.072?µg?L^?1 in stream water.     

超声波溶剂提取-气相色谱法测定烟草及烟草制品中19种有机氯农药残留

建立了超声波溶剂提取-气相色谱法同时测定烟草及其制品中19种有机氯农药残留。样品采用正己烷-丙酮超声提取,经Florisil固相萃取柱净化后,采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测法(GC-ECD)进行检测。结果发现,19种有机氯农药加标回收率均在72%以上,相对标准偏差(RSD)在0.1%～9.0%,能满足当前烟草中有机氯农药残留的同时快速检测要求。     

Monitoring of pesticides in surface water: Off-line SPE followed by HPLC with UV detection and confirmatory analysis by mass spectrometry

Summary The presence of 16 of the most widely used pesticides in southern Italy (plus atrazine, the use of which is currently restricted in Europe) has been monitored in ten surface waters of the Calabria Region. The analytes were extracted from water by off-line solid-phase extraction with a Carbograph cartridge. Base-neutral, and acid pesticides were then isolated by differential elution. Analyte fractionation and quantification were performed by liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Recoveries of analytes from 0.5 L river water (200 ngL⁻¹ spike level) were ≥84%. Confirmatory analysis was performed by HPLC coupled with ion-spray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS).     

Determination of atrazine and four organophosphorus pesticides in ground water using solid phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography with selected-ion monitoring

A rapid, sensitive, and convenient method is presented for the determination of atrazine and four organophosphorus pesticides (OPP) in small (10 ml) samples of ground water. Samples are initially fortified with ethion (internal standard), then extracted without organic solvent using a 65-microm thickness polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber. The analytes collected are thermally desorbed in a heated gas chromatographic inlet, separated using a fused-silica capillary column, and detected using a mass selective detector in its selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Two independent statistical procedures were used to evaluate the detection limits, which typically range between 2 and 8 microg l(-1) for these analytes. Method performance was also evaluated using "performance evaluation" samples, in which clean authentic ground waters were fortified to known concentrations with at least two of the analytes of interest. Sample-to-sample analysis time is approximately 30 min, making the new method ideal for "quick turn" determinations.     

Gas and liquid chromatography and enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay in pesticide monitoring of surface water from the western mediterranean (Comunidad Valenciana,Spain)

Summary A monitoring programme based on gas chromatography (NPD, ECD) using MSD for confirmatory purposes and coupled-column liquid chromatography was applied to the analysis of pesticide residues in surface water from a predominantly agricultural area of Spain (Comunidad Valenciana). Samples analysed by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay gave similar results to those obtained by GC (MSD) for the determination of total triazines. The test employed had the advantages of a simple test procedure, short analysis time and high confirmatory value. Nevertheless, the multiresidue character, accuracy and unequivocal identification of individual pesticide residues of GC (MSD) make this technique the most appropriate for environmental monitoring programmes. In this monitoring programme about 200 samples were analysed between 1993–1994. 27 different pesticides were detected in 91 of these samples. The pesticides more frequently detected were dimethoate, methidathion, endosulfan A and B, endosulfan sulphate and pirimicarb. The highest concentrations found were 39.9 g L^–1 of dimethoate, 10.6 of pirimicarb and 10.6 of methidathion.     

Determination and identification by high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrofluorimetry of twenty-three aromatic sulphonates in natural waters

A method for detecting and identifying 23 aromatic sulphonates in natural waters was optimized. Samples were pretreated by solid-phase extraction in order to eliminate interferents and to preconcentrate the analytes. Separation of the extracted analytes was accomplished by ion-pair HPLC with fluorimetric detection; the eluent composition and pH were optimized. The detection limits lie in the low μg 1⁻¹ range. Some of the investigated compounds were found in the water of the river Bormida (N.W. Italy). Unknown components were identified from their fluorescence spectra.     

Analytical development for analysis of pharmaceuticals in water samples by SPE and GC–MS

An analytical procedure involving solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been developed for determination of pharmaceutical compounds (aspirin, caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ketoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, clofibrate, clofibric acid, and gemfibrozil) in a variety of aqueous samples (wastewater and surface water). After filtration, samples were extracted and concentrated using C₁₈ or HLB cartridges, depending on the type of compound. Sample storage conditions were checked and optimized to ensure preservation of the pharmaceutical substance, taking into consideration environmental sampling conditions. For most of the pharmaceuticals monitored, recovery was in the range 53 to 99% and the variability was below 15% for the complete procedure, with limits of detection ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 ng L⁻¹, depending on the compound. The methods were successfully applied to monitoring of pharmaceutical contamination of the Seine estuary. Concentrations varied from several dozens of nanograms per liter for surface waters to several hundreds of nanograms per liter for wastewaters.     

A multimethod for the determination of 150 pesticide metabolites in surface water and groundwater using direct injection liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Based on the information available on 293 pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, biocides, growth regulators) 210 pesticide metabolites were selected for inclusion into a multimethod for the analysis of ground and surface water. With the final method 150 pesticide metabolites can be analysed from groundwater and surface water by direct injection-liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple-reaction monitoring. For most of these metabolites this is the first method published. For all metabolites linear calibration in drinking water was possible, with a lower limit of calibration of 0.1 μg/L achieved for 142 analytes and of 0.01 μg/L for 113 of the analytes. Matrix effects in ground and surface water compared to those in the drinking water were moderate (±20%) for 87% of the analytes. For critical sample/analyte combinations standard addition has to be used for correct quantification. This method allows for an extensive study of the occurrence of previously unknown or undetectable pesticide metabolites in groundwaters and surface waters.     

Sensitive method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and surface waters by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A sensitive method for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of five organophosphorus pesticides (paraoxon, methyl-parathion, ethyl-parathion, guthion and fenitrothion) in fruits and tap and river water samples is described. For the determination of pesticides in fruits a simple and rapid sample preparation procedure was developed that allowed pesticides to be determined at 50-100 micrograms/kg levels with recoveries ranging from 83 to 118% and relative standard deviations below 6%. The determination of pesticide residues in surface water samples was also successfully accomplished. Concentrations at sub-ppb levels can be measured by using a solid-phase concentration step, the recoveries being over 80%. In analyses of both fruits and surface waters, the sensitivity levels achieved were 2-10 times lower than legal limits admitted in the European Economic Community.     

Quantification and screening of pesticide residues in food by gas chromatography-exact mass time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography-exact mass time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) method has been developed for the quantification of approximately one hundred pesticides in baby food, pear and lettuce samples. Prior to analysis, co-extractives were removed from acetonitrile:toluene (80:20) extracts using dispersive solid-phase extraction with primary secondary amine (50mg) and carbon sorbent (50mg). The concentration of pesticides in the extracts was measured using an extracted mass chromatogram window of 0.05 Th. Samples spiked with pesticides at 0.01 and 0.1 mgkg(-1) yielded average recoveries in the range of 70-109% with relative standard deviations less than 26% and displayed good linearity for the majority of the analytes. The method was applied to the screening of pear and lettuce samples for pesticide residues. Targeted quantification and exact mass peak detection, deconvolution and library searching packages were used successfully to detect and identify incurred residues present in the samples at concentrations above 0.01 mgkg(-1). The new feature dynamic range enhancement, improved mass accuracy, and hence detection and quantification of the analytes across the concentration range studied.     

Development and validation of an HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of most common rice pesticides in paddy water systems

Rice crop is mainly cultivated in large river basins which constitute unique ecosystems and their ecological quality is invaluable. However, the high loads of pesticides used in rice cultivation contribute to the contamination of the water resources in such rice-cultivated regions. To regularly monitor the quality of such water resources there is a need for a rapid and sensitive multi-residue analytical method. This study presents the development and validation of a new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of most rice pesticides including penoxsulam, tricyclazole, propanil and its main metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline, azoxystrobin, molinate, profoxydim and deltamethrin. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) was used. A C₁₈ RP column operated at 30°C was utilised and the analytes were separated with a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water mixture in a linear gradient. Clean-up of water samples and isolation of pesticides was performed on SPE Bakerbond octadecyl cartridges and an ethyl acetate-dichlomethane mixture (9?:?1 v/v, 2?mL) was used for elution. Method validation was performed by means of intra-day (n?=?5) and inter-day accuracy and precision (n?=?8), sensitivity and linearity. The relative recoveries of the pesticides in paddy water samples were acceptable (80.6–110.2%) and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) ranged from 1.9 to 7.6%. Limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) varied from 0.1 to 0.8?ng?mL^?1 and 0.25 to 2.0?ng?mL^?1 respectively, depending on the analyte. The method was subsequently applied for the determination of pesticide residues in paddy and canal water samples. Tricyclazole was the most frequently detected pesticide at the highest concentrations, while herbicides were less frequently detected and at lower concentrations. The method described could be a valuable tool for regular monitoring of surface water systems in rice-cultivated basins.     

Analysis of multiple pesticide residues in tobacco using pressurized liquid extraction, automated solid-phase extraction clean-up and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method was developed for the analysis of pesticide residues in tobacco. The objective was to significantly increase the number of samples that can be processed by the laboratory and to enable the extension of the current coverage to additional pesticides. A new analytical approach was therefore defined based on two main axes, the automation of the sample preparation and the selectivity of the analyte detection using tandem mass spectrometry. This latter aspect reduces the stringency of the requirements placed on the clean-up of the extracts and on the chromatographic resolution when less selective detectors are used. The extraction of the analytes from the matrix is performed using the pressurized liquid extraction technique. Tobacco samples are extracted at elevated temperature and pressure (100 C and 100 atm; 1 atm = 101,325 Pa) using acetone as an extraction solvent. The resulting extract is then concentrated using a Vortex evaporator. Three different solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures, adjusted to the chemical properties of the different active ingredients to be measured, are applied to the concentrated extract, thus leading to three extract fractions. The first fraction contains such main classes of active ingredients as organohalogenated and 2,6-dinitroaniline compounds while the second one collects the organophosphorus and acylalanines residues; these two fractions are analyzed by capillary gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization and electron impact ionization in the positive mode, respectively. The third extract fraction gathers the N-methylcarbamates residues which are analyzed by HPLC with post-column derivatization and fluorescence detection. The different sample preparation stages from extraction to SPE clean-up have been automated through the use of recent analytical technologies. In combination with the analysis by tandem mass spectrometry, this provided a potential for a high sample throughput.     

基质分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定蔬菜风险监测中的9种农药残留

建立了基质分散固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱测定蔬菜中多菌灵、氧乐果、克百威、涕灭威、毒死蜱、甲胺磷、甲拌磷、对硫磷、甲基对硫磷9种农药残留的方法。蔬菜通过乙腈提取、盐析分配、基质分散固相萃取净化后,采用Waters BEH C18柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm),以乙腈和0.1%甲酸水溶液作为流动相,梯度洗脱,电喷雾电离正离子(ESI⁺)、多反应监测(MRM)模式测定,基质匹配标准溶液工作曲线法定量。该方法的检出限为0.8~4.0 μg/kg,回收率为72.8%~117.4%。50批蔬菜样品中毒死蜱、多菌灵和氧乐果残留的检出率分别为42.0%、14.0%和2.0%,毒死蜱超标率为8.0%,其他农药未检出。该法可同时测定食品风险监测中蔬菜的农药残留,具有操作方便、准确率高、重复性好等优点,可满足蔬菜中农药残留的检测要求。     

羰基铁粉掺杂整体柱萃取-在线热解吸进样气相色谱-串联质谱法分析茶叶样品中拟除虫菊酯类农药残留

制备了羰基铁粉掺杂硅胶整体柱，用于拟除虫菊酯类农药残留萃取，并与气相色谱-串联质谱（GC-MS/MS）法联用，建立了在线富集、热解吸GC-MS/MS测定茶叶样品中拟除虫菊酯类农药残留方法。研究将端羟基聚二甲基硅氧烷共价键合到SiO₂网络表面，并同时键合羰基铁粉。将目标分析物吸附并浓缩在聚二甲基硅氧烷位点上后，利用羰基铁粉的高频感应加热特性成功实现了GC-MS/MS直接气体进样并可达到快速、均匀解吸的目的。实验结果表明，在最佳条件下，本方法的富集倍数可达到约1000倍。拟除虫菊酯类农药残留的检出限为3.8~7.5 μg/kg，相对标准偏差为3.2%~6.8%（n=6）。该方法的提取回收率为97.7%~110.5%，相关系数≥0.9960。该法的吸附容量大，在电磁感应的条件下进行热脱附继而直接与GC-MS结合实现在线分析以及无溶剂洗脱。与常规固相微萃取（SPME）方法相比，该方法具有富集因子高、整体柱吸附容量大、可重复使用、自动化程度高、普适性好等优点。在样品前处理及复杂基质中农药残留的提取方面具有重要的研究意义。     

Applicability of headspace solid-phase microextraction to the determination of multi-class pesticides in waters

The applicability of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) to pesticide determination in water samples was demonstrated by evaluating the effects of temperature on the extraction of the pesticides. The evaluations were performed using an automated system with a heating module. The 174 pesticides that are detectable with gas chromatograph were selected objectively and impartially based on their physical properties: vapor pressure and partition coefficient between octanol and water. Of the 174 pesticides, 158 (90% of tested) were extracted with a polyacrylate-coated fiber between 30 and 100 degrees C and were determined with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. The extraction-temperature profiles of the 158 extracted pesticides were obtained to evaluate the effects of temperature on the extraction of pesticides. The pesticides were classified into four groups according to the shape of their extraction-temperature profiles. The line of demarcation between extractable pesticides and non-extractable pesticides could be drawn in the physical property diagram (a double logarithmic plot of their vapor pressure and partition coefficient between octanol and water). The plot also revealed relationships between classified extraction features and their physical properties. The new method for multi residue screening in which the analytes were categorized into sub-groups based on extraction temperature was developed. In order to evaluate the quantitivity of the developed method, the 45 pesticides were chosen among the pesticides that are typically monitored in waters. Linear response data for 40 of the 45 was obtained in the concentration range below 5 microg/l with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.979 and 0.999. The other five pesticides had poor responses. Relative standard deviations at the concentration of the lowest standard solution for each calibration curve of the pesticides ranged from 3.6 to 18%. The value of 0.01 microg/l in the limits of detection for 17 pesticides was achieved only under the approximate conditions for screening, not under the individually optimized conditions for each pesticide. Recoveries of tested pesticides in actual matrices were essentially in agreement with those obtained by solid-phase extraction.     

Application of graphene for the SPE clean‐up of organophosphorus pesticides residues from apple juices

In this paper, an effective graphene‐based SPE clean‐up procedure coupled with GC–MS was developed for the determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in apple juices. The apple juice samples were diluted with water and could be loaded onto the cartridge directly. Several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated, including the type of elution, washing solution, and sample pH. Under the optimized conditions, excellent limits of quantitation for the target analytes were found to be 0.15–1.18 ng/mL, and the average recoveries of the analytes at two spiked levels for real‐sample analysis ranged from 69.8 to 106.2% with RSDs less than 7.3%. Furthermore, the graphene‐based cartridges exhibited superior reusability for juice sample analysis. The proposed method is sensitive, simple, and cost saving, and provides a detection platform for the monitoring of pesticide residues.     

Investigating the presence of pesticide transformation products in water by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with different mass analyzers

Many pesticide transformation products (TPs) can reach environmental waters as a consequence of their normally having a higher polarity than their parent pesticides. This makes the development of analytical methodology for reliable identification and subsequent quantification at the sub-microgram per liter levels necessary, as required under current legislation. In this paper we report the photodegradation of several pesticides frequently detected in environmental waters from the Spanish Mediterranean region using the high-resolution and exact-mass capabilities of hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS) hyphenated to liquid chromatography (LC). Once the main photodegradation/hydrolysis products formed in aqueous media were identified, analytical methodology for their simultaneous quantification and reliable identification in real water samples was developed using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE)-LC-tandem MS with a triple-quadrupole (QqQ) analyzer. The methodology was validated in both ground and surface water samples spiked at the limit of quantification (LOQ) and 10 x LOQ levels, i.e. 50 and 500 ng/l, obtaining satisfactory recoveries and precision for all compounds. Subsequent analysis of ground and surface water samples resulted in the detection of a number of TPs higher than parent pesticides. Additionally, several soil-interstitial water samples collected from the unsaturated zone were analyzed to explore the degradation/transformation of some pesticides in the field using experimental plots equipped with lisimeters. Several TPs were found in these samples, with most of them having also been detected in ground and surface water from the same area. This paper illustrates the extraordinary potential of LC-MS(/MS) with QTOF and QqQ analyzers for qualitative/structural and quantitative analysis, respectively, offering analytical chemists one of the most powerful tools available at present to investigate the presence of pesticide TPs in water.     

Determination,aerobic biodegradation and environmental occurrence of aliphatic alcohol polyethoxylate sulfates (AES)

A new analytical method was developed for the routine specific determination of the anionic surfactant Alcohol polyEthoxylate Sulfate (AES) in environmental aqueous samples. An enrichment/fractionation of the target analytes in water samples was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on graphitized carbon black (GCB) (recoveries: 90–103%), followed by hydrolysis/derivatization with fluorescent reagents and separation/detection by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence (HPLC-FLD). The developed procedure was applied to the study of the aerobic biodegradation of AES under laboratory conditions and to a ten-month monitoring of AES, as well as of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPE) and alcohol polyethoxylates (AE) surfactants, in the Po river (Northern Italy). The residual concentrations found in the river waters were compared and used for a preliminary estimation of the annual average loads of monitored surfactants in the Adriatic Sea.     

Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in monitoring of small water bodies in Hungary, I. Establishment of surveillance monitoring system for physical and chemical characteristics for small mountain watercourses

The EU Water Framework Directives (WFD) prescribes to achieve a good status of surface waters by 2015. To keep this deadline of a new three level (surveillance, operational and investigative) monitoring system is required, including hydro-morphological, biological and chemical elements. The status of a water body should be related to the reference conditions, depending on surface water types. In Hungary, the standard monitoring network for surface water quality has been operated for rivers and large lakes; however no satisfactory information is available for small water bodies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a methodology to develop a monitoring network for small watercourses. For this purpose a slightly impacted mountain stream (Nagy Stream in Mátra Mountains), was selected and intensively monitored during three years (May 2002 → May 2005). Hydrological, biological and chemical parameters required by WFD were monitored in this program. Variability of parameters vs. time and space was also investigated. The minimum frequency of sampling was determined for chosen physico-chemical components to meet the WFD standards for confidence. It was found that the minimum frequency of sampling suggested by WFD in space and time may not be adequate for precise and accurate characterization of water quality.