Microwave-assisted extraction of pyrethroid insecticides from semi permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) used to indoor air monitoring

Assessment of respiratory exposure to cypermethrin among farmers and farm workers of Shiraz, Iran

Cypermethrin, a member of the synthetic pyrethroids group, is a popular insecticide used to eliminate a broad range of common bugs in agricultural lands and households. However, studies of farmers' exposure to this insecticide are limited. The present study aimed to measure the respiratory exposure to cypermethrin among farmers and farm workers of Shiraz, as one of the biggest cities in Fars province, Iran. Totally, nine target regions were selected, where 42 individual samples were taken using XAD-2 sorbents and were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). This is the first study on farmers' exposure to insecticides during spraying in Iran. The average concentration of cypermethrin vapor in farmers' respiratory area during spraying was 0.982 ± 0.421 mg/m³, which was lower than the permitted threshold value for cypermethrin recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The mean time-weighted average (TWA) was also evaluated in two distinct occupational groups (tree operators and field operators). The exposure was significantly higher in tree operators than in field operators. A direct correlation was also found between the height of the workers and the amount of cypermethrin (Spearman's r = 0.555). Findings support that farm workers' respiratory exposure to cypermethrin was within the permissible range, but this situation cannot guarantee workers' safety. Total respiratory exposure and skin exposure studies are recommended in future research.

An overview of sample preparation and extraction of synthetic pyrethroids from water, sediment and soil

The latest developments in sample preparation and extraction of synthetic pyrethroids from environmental matrices viz., water, sediment and soil were reviewed. Though the synthetic pyrethroids were launched in 1970s, to the best of authors' knowledge there was no review on this subject until date. The present status and recent advances made during the last 10 years in sample preparation including conservation and extraction techniques used in determination of synthetic pyrethroids in water, sediment and soil were discussed. Pre- and post-extraction treatments, sample stability during extraction and its influence upon the whole process of analytical determination were covered. Relative merits and demerits including the green aspects of extraction were evaluated. The current trends and future prospects were also addressed.

Partitioning of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) to semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD)

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) are widely used substances that were detected even in remote regions of the world. For the determination of FTOH in the atmosphere, appropriate sampling techniques are needed. In this study, triolein-filled low-density polyethylene tubes were used as semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) and tested for their suitability as passive air samplers for FTOH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Partitioning to and from SPMD were investigated for four FTOH of different chain length and concentration levels in laboratory and field experiments. FTOH were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile:n-hexane 1:1 and determined by gas chromatography (GC)-positive ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (MS).

RESULTS

FTOH behaved differently depending on applied concentrations. At high FTOH levels, compound passage through the membrane and uptake appeared to be best for 6:2 FTOH, but passage of long-chain FTOH was in the same order of magnitude. At low FTOH concentration levels, mass transfer and uptake was best for short-chain FTOH. Partitioning of 4:2 FTOH to SPMD exceeded partitioning of 10:2 FTOH by nearly two orders of magnitude.

DISCUSSION

FTOH partitioning to SPMD seems to be dependent on the fluorinated chain length and controlled by the SPMD membrane acting as a barrier. Migration of long-chain FTOH through the membrane was hampered, probably due to the oleophobic properties of the fluorinated alkyl chain. Because of the constricted diffusion of FTOH through the SPMD membrane at low FTOH levels, an adequate accumulation in the passive sampler is prevented. Thus, sensitivity of the analytical method in combination with the enrichment of FTOH in SPMD was not sufficient to achieve adequate method detection limit at low FTOH levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of SPMD as passive air samplers for FTOH did not seem to be a suitable method for environmentally relevant FTOH concentrations.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

As a consequence, we can only recommend the use of SPMD for FTOH of presumably high contamination levels.

Semivolatile organic compounds in residential air along the Arizona-Mexico border

Concerns about indoor air quality and the potential effects on people living in these environments are increasing as more reports about the toxicities and the potential indoor air exposure levels of household-use chemicals and chemicals from housing and fumishing manufacture in air are being assessed. Gas chromatography/mass spectromery was used to confirm numerous airborne contaminants obtained from the analysis of semipermeable membrane devices deployed inside of 52 homes situated along the border between Arizona and Mexico. We also describe nontarget analytes in the organochlorine pesticide fractions of 12 of these homes; this fraction is also the most likely to contain the broadest scope of bioconcentratable chemicals accumulated from the indoor air. Approximately 400 individual components were identified, ranging from pesticides to a wide array of hydrocarbons, fragrances such as the musk xylenes, flavors relating to spices, aldehydes, alcohols, esters and phthalate esters, and other miscellaneous types of chemicals. The results presented in this study demonstrate unequivocally that the mixture of airborne chemicals present indoors is far more complex than previously demonstrated.

Evaluation of the fate of the active ingredients of insecticide sprays used indoors

The fate of the active ingredients of insecticide sprays after use in indoor environments was investigated. Indoor air sampling was performed through two types of adsorbents, namely, TENAX TA and XAD-2 (10 L). After sampling, both adsorbents were ultrasonically extracted and analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectroscopy. The separation and analysis of the selected compounds were satisfactory and fast (duration of the chromatographic run: 40 min). The method was linear for all examined chemicals over the tested range (2 to 50 ng of absolute compound); limits of detection ranged from 0.42 to 1.32 ng of absolute compound. The method was then applied in the determination of the active ingredients of three commercially available insecticide sprays that were separately used in a full-scale environmental chamber (30 m(3)). After spraying, the fate of the active ingredients [propoxur, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and pyrethrin insecticides] was monitored over 40 minutes, with and without ventilation. Both adsorbent materials were proven to be efficient and the differences in the concentrations deriving from sampling with both materials were in almost all cases less than 10%. All chemicals were removed in rates that exceeded 80%, after the 40 minutes of monitoring, exhibiting different decay rates. The removal of insecticides was not significantly affected by the ventilation of the chamber. The correlation analysis of propoxur, PBO and pyrethrins with the aerosols of various sizes (15 fractions, from 0.3 to > 20 microm) showed that propoxur and PBO mainly associated with the medium size aerosols (3-7.5 microm) while pyrethrins seem to link more with heavier particles (> 10 microm).

Assessing air quality inside vehicles and at filling stations by monitoring benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes with the use of semipermeable devices

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) were used as target molecules to evaluate the quality of air inside motor vehicles and near filling stations, using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as low-cost passive sampling devices. A direct, fast, simple methodology based on the use of headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection (HS-GC-MS) was developed for BTEX determinations, without any sample pre-treatment. SPMDs (25.4 cm2 surface, filled with 100 microL triolein) were employed as static samplers. After the selected deployment time, the SPMDs were heated inside a HS vial at 150 degrees C for 20 min and BTEX compounds were determined by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode in less than 12 min. The proposed method provides limits of detection of less than 1 ng SPMD(-1) for all compounds studied; which is equivalent to 0.3-8 ng m(-3) in air for a deployment time of 24 h, and to 9-200 microg m(-3) for 10 min time, as a function of the compound considered. Using sampling times of around 24 h, concentrations from 0.2 to 145 microg m(-3) were measured inside motor vehicles. For exposure times from 2 to 40 min, concentrations of BTEX ranging from 0.03 to 79 mg m(-3) were measured at filling stations, especially during refueling of vehicles with gasoline.

Occupational and indoor air exposure to persistent organic pollutants: a review of passive sampling techniques and needs

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and related compounds such as PCBs, brominated flame retardants, organochlorine pesticides and PAHs is regarded as an important environmental risk factor for humans. Recently concerns about POPs resulted in the international protocol called the Stockholm Convention on POPs. Air quality standards (indoor, outdoor and occupational) for PAHs and other POPs will also be applied in the EU in the future. This will bring requirements for monitoring, to check for compliance and to reduce human exposures to POPs. This can occur from point sources and in various microenvironments, indoors, outdoors and in workplaces. Monitoring can be undertaken either by an active (pumped) method or using a passive (diffusive) air sampling (PAS) device. To date, PAS for POPs have mainly been used as integrating (long-term) samplers for ambient (outdoor) air. However, there are several reasons to develop PAS for monitoring of POPs in occupational and indoor environments. We discuss the potential advantages, limitations and developments needed, so that PAS can be used reliably and routinely indoors and in occupational settings for POPs.

Behaviour of semipermeable membrane devices in neutral pesticide uptake from waters

The application of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) has been evaluated as a passive sampler for the collection of multiresidue pesticides in continental waters. Seven chlorinated, five organophosphorus, six carbamate, nine pyrethroid and ten other pesticides were tested in order to estimate which compounds can be retained with these devices. The effect of water parameters, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength and organic matter content, were evaluated for their effect on the retention of the pesticides by the SPMDs. Studies of uptake from water were performed in a glass beaker containing 2 L distilled water spiked with 50 ng L-1 of each pesticide investigated. A SPMD was put in the beaker, under turbulent conditions, and analysed after 2 days' extraction. The contents of each SPMD were microwave-assisted-extracted twice with 30 mL hexane-acetone, to 90 degrees C for 10 min, and this was followed by a cleanup based on acetonitrile partitioning and solid-phase extraction. Gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection was employed for determination of pesticides, and provided low limits of detection from 0.5 to 7 ng per SPMD. Higher absorption rates were observed for pyrethroid, organophosphorus and chlorinated compounds than for carbamates. Pesticide uptake rates were independent of the water composition and decreased at low temperature.

Applications of microwave-assisted processes (MAP™) to environmental analysis

The use of microwave-assisted extraction has gained wide acceptance as a powerful tool for the recovery of environmental contaminants and their subsequent analysis. This paper reviews the historical and fundamental basis of the technology. It also provides a cursory review of the current state-of-the-art and literature (2000-2006) in the area of environmental analysis in addition to providing a critical review of the level of efforts being devoted to its further development.