Analysis of endocrine disrupting pesticides by capillary GC with mass spectrometric detection.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals, among them many pesticides, alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system of both wildlife and humans at very low concentration levels. Therefore, the importance of method development for their analysis in food and the environment is increasing. This also covers contributions in the field of ultra-trace analysis of multicomponent mixtures of organic pollutants in complex matrices.

Analysis of pesticide residues by fast gas chromatography in combination with negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A combination of fast GC with narrow-bore column and bench top quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) detector in negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode (with methane as reagent gas) is set up and utilized for the ultratrace analysis of 25 selected pesticides. The observed pesticides, belonging to the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), were from different chemical classes. A comparative study with electron impact (EI) ionization was also carried out (both techniques in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode).

Comparison of negative chemical ionization and electron impact ionization in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of endocrine disrupting pesticides.

The study of pesticide residues belonging to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) (23 analytes of different chemical classes--organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, dicarboximides, phtalamides, dinitroanilines, pyrazole, triazinone) in apple matrix with conventional capillary GC-NCI-MS (with methane as reagent gas) in comparison to EI ionization is presented. For sample preparation QuEChERS method was applied. The lowest calibration levels (LCLs) for all pesticides were determined in both modes.

Fast gas chromatography for pesticide residues analysis.

The importance of method development in the area of pesticide residues analysis is apparent from legislative requirements continuously decreasing the maximum acceptable concentration levels in food and water. This covers also contribution in the science in the field of ultra-trace analysis of organic pollutants in complex mixtures. Analysis time is one of the most important aspects that should be considered in the choice of analytical methods for routine application.

Fast gas chromatography for pesticide residues analysis using analyte protectants.

Fast GC-MS with narrow-bore columns combined with effective sample preparation technique (QuEChERS method) was used for evaluation of various calibration approaches in pesticide residues analysis. In order to compare the performance of analyte protectants (APs) with matrix-matched standards calibration curves of selected pesticides were searched in terms of linearity of responses, repeatability of measurements and reached limit of quantifications utilizing the following calibration standards in the concentration range 1-500 ng mL(-1)(the equivalent sample concentration 1-500 microg kg(-1)): in neat solvent (acetonitrile) with/without addition of APs, matrix-matched standards with/without addition of APs. For APs results are in a good agreement with matrix-matched standards.