Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and chlorinated pesticides in a fish tissue standard reference material

The concentrations of a wide range of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides in a fish tissue Standard Reference Material (SRM) have been determined using multiple methods of analysis. This material, SRM 1946, Lake Superior Fish Tissue, was recently issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and complements a suite of marine environmental natural-matrix SRMs that are currently available from NIST for the determination of organic contaminants such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and chlorinated pesticides. SRM 1946 is a fresh tissue homogenate (frozen) prepared from filleted adult lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush) collected from the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior. SRM 1946 has certified and reference concentrations for PCB congeners, including the three non- ortho PCB congeners, and chlorinated pesticides. Certified concentrations are available for 30 PCB congeners and 15 chlorinated pesticides. Reference concentrations are available for 12 PCB congeners and 2 chlorinated pesticides. In addition, SRM 1946 is characterized for additional chemical constituents and properties: fatty acids, extractable fat, methylmercury, total mercury, selected trace elements, proximates, and caloric content. The characterization of chlorinated compounds is described in this paper with an emphasis on the approach used for the certification of the concentrations of PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides. The PCB congener and chlorinated pesticide data are also compared to concentrations in other marine natural-matrix reference materials available from NIST (fish oil, mussel tissue, whale blubber, and a second fresh frozen fish tissue homogenate prepared from filleted adult lake trout collected from Lake Michigan) and from other organizations such as the National Research Council Canada (ground whole carp), the International Atomic Energy Agency (fish homogenate), and the European Commission Joint Research Centre [fish oils (cod and mackerel) and mussel tissue].     

Analysis of urban particulate standard reference materials for the determination of chlorinated organic contaminants and additional chemical and physical properties

A previously issued National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM), SRM 1649, Urban Dust/Organics has been analyzed for chlorinated organic contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides) to provide certified values for a new class of compounds relative to the former certification. The material will be reissued as SRM 1649a. Four different analytical techniques were used. Specifically, two different methods of extraction (Soxhlet and pressurized fluid extraction) were used in conjunction with sample analysis by gas chromatography with two different columns (5% phenyl-methyl polysiloxane and 50% methyl C-18 dimethyl polysiloxane) that exhibit distinct selectivity, and with two different modes of detection (electron capture detection and mass spectrometry). The results from these techniques were combined to generate certified concentrations for 35 PCB congeners (some in combination) and 8 chlorinated pesticides. Ancillary assessments of additional chemical and physical properties of SRM 1649a include homogeneity, moisture, total organic carbon, extractable mass, and the particle-size distribution. The approach and the results for the certification of the PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides in SRM 1649a, and the determination of the additional chemical and physical properties are described. In addition, the determination of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in SRM 1648, Urban Particulate Matter (a particulate material certified for inorganic constituents), is also discussed although certified values are not presented. Received: 8 June 1998 / Revised: 4 September 1998 / Accepted: 26 September 1998     

Analysis of urban particulate standard reference materials for the determination of chlorinated organic contaminants and additional chemical and physical properties

A previously issued National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM), SRM 1649, Urban Dust/Organics has been analyzed for chlorinated organic contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides) to provide certified values for a new class of compounds relative to the former certification. The material will be reissued as SRM 1649a. Four different analytical techniques were used. Specifically, two different methods of extraction (Soxhlet and pressurized fluid extraction) were used in conjunction with sample analysis by gas chromatography with two different columns (5% phenyl-methyl polysiloxane and 50% methyl C-18 dimethyl polysiloxane) that exhibit distinct selectivity, and with two different modes of detection (electron capture detection and mass spectrometry). The results from these techniques were combined to generate certified concentrations for 35 PCB congeners (some in combination) and 8 chlorinated pesticides. Ancillary assessments of additional chemical and physical properties of SRM 1649a include homogeneity, moisture, total organic carbon, extractable mass, and the particle-size distribution. The approach and the results for the certification of the PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides in SRM 1649a, and the determination of the additional chemical and physical properties are described. In addition, the determination of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in SRM 1648, Urban Particulate Matter (a particulate material certified for inorganic constituents), is also discussed although certified values are not presented. Received: 8 June 1998 / Revised: 4 September 1998 / Accepted: 26 September 1998     

Fast solid phase extraction of polychlorobiphenyls and chlorinated pesticide residues from mussels using sep-pak cartridges

Summary A rapid method for the determination of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in mussels (Mytilus sp.) is reported. The mussel sample is homogenized and extracted with acetonitrile. The organic solution is concentrated and successively diluted with distilled water solution (12 g L⁻¹ NaCl). The organic compounds from water solution are adsorbed onto a NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge. The clean-up step, in which the polychlorobiphenyls and chiorinated pesticides are separated in different eluates, is achieved by passing 25 mL of a 40% methanol aqueous solution through the NH₂ Sep-Pak and the C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridges connected in series. The polychloroblphenyls are desorbed from the NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge whilst the chlorinated peslicides are recovered from the C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridge. In the separation of polychlorobiphenyls from the chlorinated pesticides tested in this work, only aldrin, hepatachlor and 4,4′-DDD are partially adsorbed with the polychlorobiphenyls onto the NH₂ Sep-Pak cartridge. The average recovery is ≥95.0% with a relative standard deviation ≤5.0%. The limits of detection for different pesticides and polychlorobiphenyl congeners are 0.01 and 0.008 μg Kg⁻¹. The final determination is carried out by capillary gas chromatography with ECD.     

Determination of acidic chlorinated pesticides in water: Comparison of official EPA method 515.1 and liquid-solid extraction HPLC/UV and HPLC/PBMS analyses

Summary A comparison of the official EPA method 515.1 for determination of chlorinated acidic pesticides and a modification of it is illustrated. Extraction of the analytes from water and their determination and quantitation is by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD), liquid chromatography-UV detection and liquid chromatography-particle beam mass spectrometry. Although HPLC-PBMS was found to be less sensitive than the GC-ECD method, it was, nevertheless, more sensitive than HPLC-UV. The modified method is simpler, quicker and allows more accurate determination of pesticides in aqueous samples.Deceased July 31, 1996     

Separation of polychlorobiphenyls from chlorinated pesticides in sediment and oyster samples for analysis by gas chromatography.

Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) have been separated from DDT and its analogs and from the other common chlorinated pesticides by adsorption chromatography on columns of alumina and charcoal. Elution from alumina columns with increasing fractional amounts of hexane first isolates dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide from a mixture of chlorinated pesticides and PCBs. The remaining fraction, when added to a charcoal column, can be separated into two fractions, one containing the chlorinated pesticides, the other containing the PCBs, by eluting with acetone-diethyl ether (25:75) and benzene, respectively. The PCBs and the pesticides are then determined by gas chromatography on the separate column eluates without cross interference. The method is applicable to sample extracts prepared for gas chromatography. Recoveries of the PCBs (Aroclors) and the chlorinated pesticides are good and the method is applicable to sediment and marine biota samples.     

固相微萃取-气相色谱-电子捕获快速富集检测海水中的有机氯农药

建立了固相微萃取(SPME)技术结合气相色谱-电子捕获(GC—ECD)检测方法,对大连近海养殖区内海水中的痕量12种有机氯农药进行检测,以便对该水域中海产品的食品安全性进行评估。该法具有较好的线性(相关系数为0．98～0．99),检出限达0．2～7ng／L,定量下限为0．66～23ng／L,重复测定的相对标准偏差小于10％(n=3),回收率为68％～133％。对影响SPME的参数和海水中存在的基质干扰进行探讨。     

用于气相色谱和气相色谱-质谱测定植物样品中含氯有机污染物残留的样品前处理方法

根据植物样品中的主要干扰物质,建立了用于气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)测定植物样品中含氯有机污染物残留的样品前处理方法,有效提高了对植物样品中有机氯农药及多氯联苯检测的灵敏度。采用均质提取法对样品进行提取,考察了凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)和固相萃取(SPE)对提取液的净化效果。结果发现,采用GC测定目标物时,提取液需经GPC和SPE两次净化;而采用GC-MS测定目标物时,仅用SPE一次净化即可。该方法快速、经济、灵敏,适合多种植物样品中有机污染物残留分析的样品前处理要求。     

Detection of volatile organic compounds using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates mounted on a thermoelectric cooler

Preliminary results for a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are described. The sensor is comprised of a SERS substrate mounted on a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). The SERS substrate is chemically modified with a thiol coating that prevents oxidation of the roughened silver surface and attracts the analyte of interest to the SERS surface. Using this sensor, detection of chlorinated solvents, aromatic compounds, and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) is demonstrated.     

Determination of Chlorinated Pesticides by Packed Column Supercritical Fluid Chromatography/Electron-Capture Detector

An electron-capture detector (ECD) was used in packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for the selective determination of chlorinated pesticides. The separation of chlorinated pesticides was conducted on an ODS-silica gel column using carbon dioxide as a mobile phase without a modifier. The detection temperature of ECD was set to 325°C according to the peak sensitivities. The SFC/ECD system was applied to the determination of γ-BHC and p, p′-DDD in carrots extracted by supercritical fluid extraction. The recoveries of γ-BHC and p, p′-DDD obtained by the SFC/ECD were 93.9 and 93.2%, respectively.     

Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Chlorinated Pesticides in Environmental Biological Samples Using Focused Microwave-assisted Extraction

Abstract

Organochlorine compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides have been analysed in environmental biological samples using focused microwave-assisted extraction (FMW). The analytical procedure is presented and the results for two Standard Reference Materials, a cod liver oil and a freeze-dried mussel tissue, are reported. The average recoveries for the sum of the PCBs are between 93% and 106%, and for the sum of the chlorinated pesticides are between 109 to 115% for all the certified compounds analysed. The developped analytical procedure is highly reproducible with an average standard deviation of 8% for the sum of the PCBs and 9.7% for the sum of the chlorinated pesticides in the two matrices.     

Recent progress in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the detection of environmental pollutants

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as one of the most promising analytical tools in recent years. Due to advantageous features such as sensitivity, specificity, ease of operation and rapidity, SERS is particularly well suited for environmental analysis. We summarize here some considerations with respect to the detection of pollutants by SERS and provide an overview on recent achievements in the determination of organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, and pathogens. Following an introduction into the topic and considering aspects of sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and portability, we are summarizing applications of SERS in the detection of pollutants, with sections on organic pollutants (pesticides, PAHs and PCBs, explosives), on heavy metal ions, and on pathogens. In addition, we discuss current challenges and give an outlook on applications of SERS in environmental analysis. Contains 174 references.

On-line continuous-flow extraction system in liqud chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection for the determination of selected organic pollutants

An on-line extraction system with completely continuous-flow analysis prior to the liquid chromatographic (LC) column was used for the determination of the organophosphorus pesticides tetrachlorvinphos and parathion-methyl and their degradation products 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol, respectively, and the chlorinated phenoxy acids 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and silvex in water samples. The extent of extraction varied from 100% for chlorinated phenoxy acids to 60% for organophosphorus pesticides and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol. The extraction of 4-nitrophenol was less than 10% under these conditions. By employing positive-ion mode thermospray LC-mass spectrometry, the characterization of tetrachlorvinphos was feasible, indicating [M + NH₄]⁺ as the base peak and a second peak with 20% relative intensity corresponding to [M + H]⁺. When the negative-ion mode was used, the chlorinated phenoxy acids and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol exhibited [M + HCOO]^? as the base peak and a second peak with 30% relative intensity corresponding to [M ? H]^?. The determination of 1 mg l^?1 of tetrachlorvinphos spiked in a surface water sample is reported.     

Simplified method for the determination of chlorinated fungicides and insecticides in fruits by gas chromatography

A fast, reliable method for the determination of more than twenty chlorinated fungicides and insecticides in a variety of fruit samples is presented. The pesticides are extracted from chopped samples with magnetic stirring, after adding 13 ml of acetone-phosphate buffer-brine solution (12:1, v/v) with 5 ml of n-hexane. The continuous module employed allows sequential decolourization of the organic phase, solvent changeover and solid-phase extraction for clean-up and preconcentration purposes. A 1-microl aliquot of the pesticides in ethyl acetate (eluent) is finally injected into the gas chromatograph for separation and identification. The method provides excellent clean-up despite the complexity of the matrices involved. Fruit samples (5-20 g) containing 0.1-1250 ng/g pesticides were analysed with a high precision (4-6%). After contamination of the fruit samples for 12 h, average recoveries >90% at fortification levels of 5-25 ng/g were obtained for most of the pesticides. Positive findings of these pesticides in fruits purchased at local markets were confirmed by GC-MS.     

Rapid determination of chlorinated pesticides in fish by freezing-lipid filtration, solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An analytical method has been developed for measuring 24 chlorinated pesticides in fish tissue samples. Extraction of chlorinated pesticides was carried out by ultrasonication using an acetone-n-hexane (5:2, v/v) mixture. Most of the lipids in the extract were eliminated by freezing-lipid filtration, prior to solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup. During freezing-lipid filtration, about 90% of the lipids extracted from the fish samples were easily removed without any significant losses of chlorinated pesticides. For purification, SPE using Florisil was shown to be more effective than silica. Quantification was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Spiking experiments were carried out to determine the recovery, precision, and limits of detection (LODs) of the method. The overall recovery was above 80% in the spiked fish tissue sample at 100 ng/g level. The detection limits for chlorinated pesticides were ranged from 0.5 to 5 ppb, except for endosulfan I and II which was 20 ppb. The newly developed method is demonstrated to give efficient recoveries and LODs for detecting chlorinated pesticides spiked into fish tissue with high lipid content.     

Enhanced Raman spectroscopy coupled to chemometrics for identification and quantification of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

In this work, we present a new complete method using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and chemometrics for the qualitative and quantitative detection of pesticides by measuring the acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activity. The Raman SERS is not only used for measuring the ACHE activity, but also for the direct detection of pesticides individually and for their identification. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as dynamic SERS substrates for sensitive monitoring of ACHE activity in the presence of very low levels of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, chemical warfare agents that are known to be ACHE inhibitors. The lowest detectable level for paraoxon was determined at 4.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ M and 1.9 × 10⁻⁹ M for carbaryl. The use of the enzyme allowed limits of detection for both pesticides that were much lower than the limits obtained by direct SERS analysis of the pesticides. The system shows a linear relationship between the intensity band at 639 cm⁻¹ and pesticide concentration. These results suggest that this biosensor could be used in the future for the non-selective detection of all ACHE inhibitors at very low concentrations with possible identification of the inhibitor.     

Multiresidue determination of pesticides in honey by matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

A multiresidue method was developed for the determination of 15 pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphorus compounds, pyrethroids, and other acaricides) in various commercial honeys (eucalyptus, lavender, orange, rosemary, and multifloral). The analytical procedure is based on the matrix solid-phase dispersion of honey in a mixture of Florisil and anhydrous sodium sulfate; the mixture is placed in small plastic columns and extracted with hexane-ethyl acetate (90 + 10, v/v). The pesticide residues are determined by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Recoveries with the method at concentrations between 0.15 and 1.5 microg/g ranged from 80 to 113%, and relative standard deviations were <10% for all the pesticides studied. The pesticide detection limits were within the range 0.5-5 microg/kg for organochlorines, around 3 microg/kg for the chlorinated organophosphorus pesticides studied, near 15 microg/kg for fluvalinate, and about 3 microg/kg for the other pyrethroids.     

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy signals of mixed pesticides and their identification

A rapid and sensitive method to identify and analyze mixed pesticides of tricyclazole,paraquat and flusilazole by surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been reported.Aqueous samples can be detected by SERS in low concentrations of 0.01 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L and 2.85 mg/L for individual tricyclazole,paraquat and flusilazole respectively.When mixing the three pesticides in the low concentrations,their characteristic peaks can still be identified from the SERS spectrum of the mixture.     

Development of frozen whale blubber and liver reference materials for the measurement of organic and inorganic contaminants

Summary Fresh frozen homogenates of pilot whale blubber and liver tissue were prepared for use as control materials for the determination of organic and inorganic contaminants in marine mammal tissue analyses. The blubber material was analyzed to determine 30 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and 16 chlorinated pesticides using gas chromatography with electron capture detection and gas chromatographymass spectrometry. A total of 39 trace elements and methylmercury were determined in the liver homogenate using instrumental neutron activation analysis, voltammetry, and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. The preparation and analysis of these two tissue materials are part of the development of marine mammal tissue reference materials.     

Evaluation of CP Sil 8 CB film thickness for the capillary GC determination of methyl mercury

Different commercially available CP-Sil 8 CB capillary columns have been tested with a mixed standard containing methyl mercury chloride, ethyl mercury chloride and a stable nonpolar chlorinated hydrocarbon. The aim of the study was to see whether the columns tested could be used without special pretreatments and precautions for the determination of organo-mercury compounds. The GC conditions in these determinations where similar to those conditions used for the determination of chlorinated pesticides. The best peak shapes where found using a normal packed column injector, modified with a commercially available insert for on-column injections on wide bore columns, and a 5.35 m thick stationary phase. It was concluded that this CP Sil 8 CB column gave good results although minor interactions between the organomercury compounds and the column could be seen.