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Talanta Aug 2015Graphene-based magnetic nanoparticles, comprising zero-valent iron, iron oxide-oxyhydroxide and graphene, were prepared through a simple one-step synthesis method, and...
Graphene-based magnetic nanoparticles, comprising zero-valent iron, iron oxide-oxyhydroxide and graphene, were prepared through a simple one-step synthesis method, and subsequently applied to magnetic solid-phase extraction for the determination of trace carbamate pesticides in tomatoes coupled with high performance liquid chromatography. The properties of the nanocomposites were confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The components within the nanocomposites endowed the material with high extraction performance and manipulative convenience. Compared with reduced graphene oxide, the as-prepared G-MNPs showed the better extraction efficiencies for the carbamate pesticides thanks to the contribution of the iron-containing magnetic nanoparticles to the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposites. Various experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency had been investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the method provided high enrichment factors ranging from 364 to 434, good linearities ranging from 5 to 200ng g(-1) for metolcarb, baygon and methiocarb and 10 to 200ng g(-1) for carbofuran and isoprocarb, low limits of detection ranging from 0.58 to 2.06ng g(-1), and satisfactory spiked recoveries (between 90.34% and 101.98% with the relative standard deviation values from 1.21% to 5.93%). It was confirmed that this novel method was an efficient pretreatment and enrichment procedure and could be successfully applied for extraction and determination of trace carbamate pesticides in complex matrices.
Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Ferric Compounds; Food Analysis; Food Contamination; Graphite; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Iron; Limit of Detection; Solanum lycopersicum; Magnetics; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Osmolar Concentration; Pesticides; Reproducibility of Results; Solid Phase Extraction; Time Factors
PubMed: 25966405
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.04.018 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2018The presence of organic micropollutants (MPs) in the aquatic environment is strongly related to their difficult elimination by conventional water and wastewater...
The presence of organic micropollutants (MPs) in the aquatic environment is strongly related to their difficult elimination by conventional water and wastewater treatment processes. Therefore, alternative treatment technologies are required to overcome this problem. In this domain, constructed wetlands (CWs) have gained increasing attention in the last years, mainly due to the low-cost, simple operation/maintenance and environmental friendliness of these systems. However, studies on the application of CWs to remove MPs from freshwater aquaculture effluents are still scarce. In this work, planted (Phragmites australis) vertical subsurface flow CWs, at microcosm scale, were investigated for the removal of MPs found in non-spiked freshwater aquaculture effluents, namely atrazine, isoproturon, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), clarithromycin, erythromycin, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC). A wider multi-component set of 36 MPs was also studied by adding these MPs at 100 ng L to the same matrix (alachlor, atrazine, chlorfenvinphos, isoproturon, PFOS, azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, diclofenac, methiocarb, acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, EHMC, simazine, atorvastatin, bezafibrate, carbamazepine, cephalexin, ceftiofur, citalopram, clindamycin, clofibric acid, diphenhydramine, enrofloxacin, fluoxetine, ketoprofen, metoprolol, norfluoxetine, ofloxacin, propranolol, tramadol, trimethoprim, venlafaxine, and warfarin). High weekly removal efficiencies (>87%) were observed for all MPs in both non-spiked and spiked experiments, with the exception of EHMC (removal rates between 0 and 86%). These results emphasize the potential of CWs to remove MPs from freshwater aquaculture effluents, but also the need to enhance the performance of these systems for the elimination of some recalcitrant MPs, such as EHMC, which was found at high concentrations in the studied effluents.
Topics: Aquaculture; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Wetlands
PubMed: 30743830
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.371 -
Journal of Chromatography. B,... Aug 2018In this paper, the use of disposable pipette extraction (DPX) for the determination of pesticides in human urine in possible cases of poisoning is proposed for the first...
An effective and high-throughput analytical methodology for pesticide screening in human urine by disposable pipette extraction and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry.
In this paper, the use of disposable pipette extraction (DPX) for the determination of pesticides in human urine in possible cases of poisoning is proposed for the first time. The pesticides studied were oxamyl, propoxur, carbofuran, 3‑hydroxycarbofuran, carbaryl, methiocarb, terbufos, parathion methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos and endosulfan. The pipette tip used for the extraction of these compounds was commercially acquired. It has a capacity of 5 mL and contains 20 mg of sorbent material (styrene-divinylbenzene). The optimization of the main parameters that can influence the extraction efficiency of this sample preparation technique was performed with univariate and multivariate approaches. The analytes were separated and identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The optimal extraction conditions were 5 extraction cycles of 30 s and 5 desorption cycles of 15 s with 250 μL of ethyl acetate. Elution of the extract was performed in a vial containing 100 mg of anhydrous sodium sulfate. The method developed was validated, providing correlation coefficients higher than 0.9955 for all analytes, limits of detection (LOD) of 0.76 to 1.52 μg L, limits of quantification (LOQ) of 2.5 to 5.0 μg L, relative recoveries of 63 to 118%, intra-day precision of 0.7 to 15.3% and inter-day precision of 4.9 to 13.1%. An effective and rapid method for the analysis of human urine for the identification of possible cases of poisoning by pesticides was successful developed.
Topics: Adult; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Humans; Limit of Detection; Linear Models; Liquid-Liquid Extraction; Pesticide Residues; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
PubMed: 29960251
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2018.06.047 -
Journal of Chromatography. A Feb 2016A method for the determination of 200 pesticides and pesticide metabolites in honeybee samples has been developed and validated. Almost 98% of compounds included in this...
Multi-residue method for the determination of pesticides and pesticide metabolites in honeybees by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry--Honeybee poisoning incidents.
A method for the determination of 200 pesticides and pesticide metabolites in honeybee samples has been developed and validated. Almost 98% of compounds included in this method are approved to use within European Union, as active substances of plant protection products or veterinary medicinal products used by beekeepers to control mites Varroa destructor in hives. Many significant metabolites, like metabolites of imidacloprid, thiacloprid, fipronil, methiocarb and amitraz, are also possible to detect. The sample preparation was based on the buffered QuEChERS method. Samples of bees were extracted with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid and then subjected to clean-up by dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) using a new Z-Sep+ sorbent and PSA. The majority of pesticides, including neonicotionoids and their metabolites, were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) but some of pesticides, especially pyrethroid insecticides, were analyzed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The procedure was validated according to the Guidance document SANCO/12571/2013 at four concentration levels: 1, 5, 10 and 100 ng/g bees and verified in the international proficiency test. The analysis of bee samples spiked at the limit of quantification (LOQ) showed about 98% mean recovery value (trueness) and 97% of analytes showed recovery in the required range of 70-120% and RSDr (precision) below 20%. Linearity and matrix effects were also established. The LOQs of pesticides were in the range of 1-100 ng/g. The developed method allows determination of insecticides at concentrations of 10 ng/g or less, except abamectin and tebufenozide. LOQ values are lower than the median lethal doses LD50 for bees. The method was used to investigate more than 70 honeybee poisoning incidents. Data about detected pesticides and their metabolites are included.
Topics: Acetonitriles; Animals; Bees; Chromatography, Gas; Environmental Monitoring; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Solid Phase Extraction; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 26830634
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2016.01.045 -
Talanta Apr 2016A new methodology for the retrospective screening of pesticide metabolites in ambient air was developed, using liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap high-resolution...
A new methodology for the retrospective screening of pesticide metabolites in ambient air was developed, using liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), including two systematic workflows (i) post-run target screening (suspect screening) and (ii) non-target screening. An accurate-mass database was built and used for the post-run screening analysis. The database contained 240 pesticide metabolites found in different matrixes such as air, soil, water, plants, animals and humans. For non-target analysis, a "fragmentation-degradation" relationship strategy was selected. The proposed methodology was applied to 31 air samples (PM10) collected in the Valencian Region (Spain). In the post-target analysis 34 metabolites were identified, of which 11 (3-ketocarburan, carbofuran-7-phenol, carbendazim, desmethylisoproturon, ethiofencarb-sulfoxide, malaoxon, methiocarb-sulfoxide, N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-L-alanine, omethoate, 2-hydroxy-terbuthylazine, and THPAM) were confirmed using analytical standards. The semiquantitative estimated concentration ranged between 6.78 and 198.31 pg m(-3). Likewise, two unknown degradation products of malaoxon and fenhexamid were elucidated in the non-target screening.
Topics: Air; Analytic Sample Preparation Methods; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Pesticide Residues
PubMed: 26838378
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.11.068 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Dec 2015As the consumption of aquatic products increased, the need for regulation of pesticide residues in aquatic products also emerged. Thus, in this study, a scheduled...
As the consumption of aquatic products increased, the need for regulation of pesticide residues in aquatic products also emerged. Thus, in this study, a scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (sMRM) method employing a novel extraction and purification step based on QuEChERS with EDTA was developed for the simultaneous quantitation of 20 pesticides (alachlor, aldicarb, carbofuran, diazinon, dimethoate, dimethomorph, ethoprophos, ferimzone, fluridone, hexaconazole, iprobenfos, malathion, methidathion, methiocarb, phenthoate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidon, pirimicarb, and simazine) in aquatic products. Additionally, the present method was validated in the aspects of specificity, linearity (r ≥ 0.980), sensitivity (the limit of quantitation (LOQ) ≤ 5 ng/g), relative standard deviation, RSD (1.0% ≤ RSD ≤ 19.4%), and recovery (60.1% ≤ recovery ≤ 117.9%). Finally, the validated method was applied for the determination of the 20 pesticide residues in eel and shrimp purchased from local food markets. In the present study, QuEChERS with EDTA was successfully expanded to residual pesticide analysis for the first time. The present method could contribute to the rapid and successful establishment of the positive list system in South Korea.
Topics: Animals; Eels; Food Contamination; Fruit; Mass Spectrometry; Palaemonidae; Pesticide Residues; Seafood; Solid Phase Extraction; Vegetables; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 26466578
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9071-x -
Environmental Health Perspectives Apr 2016There are concerns that diminished prostaglandin action in fetal life could increase the risk of congenital malformations. Many endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been...
Effects of Common Pesticides on Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) Inhibition in SC5 Mouse Sertoli Cells, Evidence of Binding at the COX-2 Active Site, and Implications for Endocrine Disruption.
BACKGROUND
There are concerns that diminished prostaglandin action in fetal life could increase the risk of congenital malformations. Many endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been found to suppress prostaglandin synthesis, but to our knowledge, pesticides have never been tested for these effects.
OBJECTIVES
We assessed the ability of pesticides that are commonly used in the European Union to suppress prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) synthesis.
METHODS
Changes in PGD2 secretion in juvenile mouse Sertoli cells (SC5 cells) were measured using an ELISA. Coincubation with arachidonic acid (AA) was conducted to determine the site of action in the PGD2 synthetic pathway. Molecular modeling studies were performed to assess whether pesticides identified as PGD2-active could serve as ligands of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) binding pocket.
RESULTS
The pesticides boscalid, chlorpropham, cypermethrin, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fludioxonil, imazalil (enilconazole), imidacloprid, iprodione, linuron, methiocarb, o-phenylphenol, pirimiphos-methyl, pyrimethanil, and tebuconazole suppressed PGD2 production. Strikingly, some of these substances-o-phenylphenol, cypermethrin, cyprodinil, linuron, and imazalil (enilconazole)-showed potencies (IC50) in the range between 175 and 1,500 nM, similar to those of analgesics intended to block COX enzymes. Supplementation with AA failed to reverse this effect, suggesting that the sites of action of these pesticides are COX enzymes. The molecular modeling studies revealed that the COX-2 binding pocket can accommodate most of the pesticides shown to suppress PGD2 synthesis. Some of these pesticides are also capable of antagonizing the androgen receptor.
CONCLUSIONS
Chemicals with structural features more varied than previously thought can suppress PGD2 synthesis. Our findings signal a need for in vivo studies to establish the extent of endocrine-disrupting effects that might arise from simultaneous interference with PGD2 signaling and androgen action.
CITATION
Kugathas S, Audouze K, Ermler S, Orton F, Rosivatz E, Scholze M, Kortenkamp A. 2016. Effects of common pesticides on prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) inhibition in SC5 mouse Sertoli cells, evidence of binding at the COX-2 active site, and implications for endocrine disruption. Environ Health Perspect 124:452-459; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409544.
Topics: Androgen Receptor Antagonists; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Catalytic Domain; Cyclooxygenase 2; Endocrine Disruptors; Male; Mice; Models, Molecular; Pesticides; Prostaglandin D2; Protein Binding; Sertoli Cells
PubMed: 26359731
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1409544