Validation of analytical methods for organochlorine pesticide detection in shellfish and cephalopods by GC-MS/MS

Techniques for quantification of organochlorine pesticides from a validated method by using gas chromatography-electron capture detector

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent organic compounds found in aquatic environments worldwide. A well-validated and well-established analytical method is crucial for detecting OCPs in the environment. In this study, an analytical method for quantifying OCPs in water was developed and evaluated. Here, the range of linearity, reproducibility, uncertainty, specificity, method detection limits (MDL), and special emphasis on detection and quantitation limits were assessed. Recovery studies were performed to measure the accuracy and precision of the method. This method exhibited excellent linearity in the range of 2.5-20 μg/L for all compounds. As none of the targeted compounds was detected in the chromatograms of the blank sample with no baseline noise, the limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined using the linear regression method, external calibration curve slope, and laboratory fortified blank-based detection. All compounds showed different LOD and LOQ values, depending on the approach used. In particular, endosulfan sulfate, methoxychlor, endrin ketone, H. epoxide, heptachlor, and 4,4'-DDT exhibited high detection limits. The recovery percentage of the 15 compounds at 5 μg/L spiked concentration was between 50 and 150 %, which is consistent with the accuracy of the APHA method. Except for endosulfan sulfate, the relative standard deviations of all other compounds were below 20 %, indicating good precision. This method has also been applied to real water samples. This validation technique is reliable, sensitive, simple, rapid, easy to comprehend, and reproducible. The application of this method in the real water samples was also conducted. Only α-BHC and γ-Chlordane were detected in the water sample.

Review of scientific literature on available methods of assessing organochlorine pesticides in the environment

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely used in agriculture and industry, causing serious health and ecological consequences upon exposure. This review offers a thorough overview of OCPs analysis emphasizing the necessity of ongoing work to enhance the identification and monitoring of these POPs in environmental and human samples. The benefits and drawbacks of the various OCPs analysis techniques including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are discussed. Challenges associated with validation and optimization criteria, including accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ), must be met for a method to be regarded as accurate and reliable. Suitable quality control measures, such as method blanks and procedural blanks, are emphasized. The LOD and LOQ are critical quality control measure for efficient quantification of these compounds, and researchers have explored various techniques for their calculation. Matrix interference, solubility, volatility, and partition coefficient influence OCPs occurrences and are discussed in this review. Validation experiments, as stated by European Commission in document SANTE/11813/2017, showed that the acceptance criteria for method validation of OCP analytes include ≤20 % for high precision, and 70-120 % for recovery. This may ultimately be vital for determining the human health risk effects of exposure to OCP and for formulating sensible environmental and public health regulations.