Simultaneous detection of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in three types of bio-based fertilizers by an improved QuEChERS method coupled with UHPLC-q-ToF-MS/MS.

Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) have the potential to contain both pesticides and pharmaceutical residues, which may pose a threat to soils, crops, and human health. However, no analytical screening method is available currently to simultaneously analyze a wide range of contaminants in the complex origin-dependent matrices of BBFs. To fill this gap, our study tested and improved an original QuEChERS method (OQM) for simultaneously analyzing 78 pesticides and 18 pharmaceuticals in BBFs of animal, plant, and ashed sewage sludge origin.

Organic contaminants in bio-based fertilizer treated soil: Target and suspect screening approaches.

Using bio-based fertilizer (BBF) in agricultural soil can reduce the dependency on chemical fertilizer and increase sustainability by recycling nutrient-rich side-streams. However, organic contaminants in BBFs may lead to residues in the treated soil. This study assessed the presence of organic contaminants in BBF treated soils, which is essential for evaluating sustainability/risks of BBF use.

Influence of Adjuvants on Pesticide Soil-Air Partition Coefficients: Laboratory Measurements and Predicted Effects on Volatilization.

A solid-phase fugacity meter was used to measure the soil-air partition coefficients of three semivolatile pesticides (chlorpyrifos, pyrimethanil, and trifluralin) in the absence of additional adjuvants (), as part of commercial formulations (), and as formulation mixtures with an additional spray adjuvant added (). Chlorpyrifos values were also measured over 15-30 °C, allowing for the change in internal energy of the phase transfer reaction (Δ) to be calculated and compared to the Δ for from the literature. Measured values were then used as input parameters in a pesticide volatilization model to understand how their variability affects pesticide volatilization rates under different conditions.

Fate of the organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos, in leaves, soil, and air following application.

A field study was conducted to further our understanding about the fate and transport of the organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos, and its degradation product, chlorpyrifos oxon. Leaf, soil and air sampling was conducted for 21 days after chlorpyrifos application to a field of purple tansy (Phacelia tanacetifolia). Air samples were collected using a high-volume air sampler (HVAS) and seven battery-operated medium-volume active air samplers placed around the field and on a 500-m transect extending away from the field.