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Multi-residue Methodologies for the Analysis of Non-polar Pesticides in Water and Sediment Matrices by GC–MS/MS

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Abstract

A multi-residue method for the analysis of non-polar pesticides by GC–MS/MS in water and sediment matrices has been successfully developed, including 33 and 27 compounds, respectively. Water analysis method is based on a classic liquid–liquid extraction with recoveries ranging between 39 and 102%, with RSDs lower than 13%, LODs of 0.42–15.2 ng L−1 and LOQs of 0.72–50.8 ng L−1. Sediment analysis method is based on a pressurized liquid extraction with recoveries ranging between 37 and 133%, RSDs lower than 18%, LODs of 0.01–0.16 ng g−1 dry weigth (dw) and LOQs of 0.02–0.54 ng g−1 dw. Reported LODs were lower than the maximum acceptable detection limits set by the EU Watch Lists for selected pesticides. Applicability of both methodologies has been evaluated in real water and sediment samples collected in Catalonian river basins reporting oxadiazon for the first time in sediments from Catalonian river basins with a range of n.d. to 382 ng g−1 dw and a mean concentration of 44.0 ng g−1 dw. The importance of the simultaneous evaluation of both water and sediment has been emphasised since ten out of the 15 detected pesticides in the sediments can pose a high risk to aquatic organisms according to the Risk Quotient (RQ) method. Further detailed work needs to be done to better understand and assess the environmental impact of pesticide-contaminated sediments on aquatic organisms.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project BECAS CTM2016-75587-C2-2-R); the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (Project APAN Ref. 2392/2017); and by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidated Research Group Water and Soil Quality Unit 2017 SGR 1404). IDAEA-CSIC is a Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Project CEX2018-000794-S).

Funding

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project BECAS CTM2016-75587-C2-2-R); the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (Project APAN Ref. 2392/2017); and by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidated Research Group Water and Soil Quality Unit 2017 SGR 1404). IDAEA-CSIC is a Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Project CEX2018-000794-S).

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  1. Water, Environment and Food Chemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Andrea Peris & Ethel Eljarrat

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Peris, A., Eljarrat, E. Multi-residue Methodologies for the Analysis of Non-polar Pesticides in Water and Sediment Matrices by GC–MS/MS. Chromatographia 84, 425–439 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-021-04026-x

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