1
|
Schürmann A, Crüzer C, Duss V, Kämpf R, Preiswerk T, Huebschmann HJ. Automated micro-solid-phase extraction clean-up and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of pesticides in foods extracted with ethyl acetate. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:689-700. [PMID: 37971663 PMCID: PMC10766720 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Generic extraction methods for the multi-compound pesticide analysis of food have found their solid place in laboratories. Ethyl acetate and acetonitrile extraction methods have been developed as fast and easy to handle standard multi-compound methods, both feature benefits and limitations. The direct injection to gas chromatography can be impaired by a high burden of coextracted matrix, resulting in deterioration of the chromatographic system and matrix effects, requiring frequent maintenance. Therefore, common clean-up methods, such as dispersive solid-phase extraction, freeze-out of fats, or gel permeation chromatography, have been applied in clean-up. Automated clean-up using micro-solid-phase extraction (µSPE) is a recent development with several demonstrated advantages when employed in the analysis of pesticides and other contaminants in foods extracted with acetonitrile, but it has not yet been evaluated in this application using ethyl acetate for extraction. In this study, an automated procedure using µSPE cartridges was developed and established on an x,y,z robotic sampler for the raw extract clean-up and preparation of diluted samples for injection on a GC-MS/MS system. Validation experiments for 212 pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lettuce, avocado, raspberry, paprika, egg, and liver extracts were performed using µSPE with MgSO4, PSA, C18, and CarbonX. The performance in routine operation is briefly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schürmann
- Cantonal Laboratory Zürich, Official Food Control Authority of the Canton of Zürich, Department Pesticide Analysis, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Claudio Crüzer
- Cantonal Laboratory Zürich, Official Food Control Authority of the Canton of Zürich, Department Pesticide Analysis, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Duss
- Cantonal Laboratory Zürich, Official Food Control Authority of the Canton of Zürich, Department Pesticide Analysis, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robin Kämpf
- Cantonal Laboratory Zürich, Official Food Control Authority of the Canton of Zürich, Department Pesticide Analysis, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ambrus Á, Doan VVN, Szenczi-Cseh J, Szemánné-Dobrik H, Vásárhelyi A. Quality Control of Pesticide Residue Measurements and Evaluation of Their Results. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28030954. [PMID: 36770626 PMCID: PMC9920035 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28030954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Pesticide residues are monitored in many countries around the world. The main aims of the programs are to provide data for dietary exposure assessment of consumers to pesticide residues and for verifying the compliance of the residue concentrations in food with the national or international maximum residue limits. Accurate residue data are required to reach valid conclusions in both cases. The validity of the analytical results can be achieved by the implementation of suitable quality control protocols during sampling and determination of pesticide residues. To enable the evaluation of the reliability of the results, it is not sufficient to test and report the recovery, linearity of calibration, the limit of detection/quantification, and MS detection conditions. The analysts should also pay attention to and possibly report the selection of the portion of sample material extracted and the residue components according to the purpose of the work, quality of calibration, accuracy of standard solutions, and reproducibility of the entire laboratory phase of the determination of pesticide residues. The sources of errors potentially affecting the measured residue values and the methods for controlling them are considered in this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Árpád Ambrus
- Doctoral School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Correspondence:
| | - Vy Vy Ngoc Doan
- Southern Pesticide Control and Testing Center, Plant Protection Department, 71007 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | | | - Henriett Szemánné-Dobrik
- Food Chain Safety Centre, Non-profit Ltd., Pesticide Residue Analytical Laboratory, 3529 Miskolc, Hungary
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chung SWC, Wong WWK. Chromatographic analysis of dithiocarbamate residues and their metabolites in foods employed in dietary exposure studies-a review. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2022; 39:1731-1743. [PMID: 35877692 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2022.2103186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) belong to a group of compounds used as fungicides in food production and can be divided into three major groups. Since DTCs easily oxidise and hydrolyse in alkaline and acidic medium respectively, precautions have to be implemented during preparation/homogenisation and extraction of samples. As such, test samples are commonly prepared individually by cutting into small pieces just before the digestion of DTCs with a hot acid to give carbon disulphide (CS2) and the results are expressed as CS2 without any differentiation of individual DTCs. However, individual DTCs have different toxicological potencies whilst their metabolites are more toxic than the parent compound. Apart from the hot digestion method, chromatographic separation of three major groups of DTCs has been developed by a number of different researchers. This review provides a comprehensive examination of sample preparation, extraction, clean-up and chromatographic methods for the determination of individual DTCs and their more toxic metabolites in foodstuffs. Moreover, this review also studies on how dietary exposure of DTCs can be efficiently and effectively estimated using different methods of analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W C Chung
- Risk Assessment Section, Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong, China
| | - Waiky W K Wong
- Risk Assessment Section, Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Introduced in 2003, the “quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe” (QuEChERS) sample preparation approach has been widely adopted in many applications, particularly in chemical residue analysis of foods. Prior to QuEChERS, sample preparation generally entailed several time-consuming, labor-intensive, and reagent-excessive steps, but the commercialization at the time of powerful, cost-effective, benchtop gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem MS (LC–MS/MS) instruments enabled the implementation of the QuEChERS procedure. Despite analytical technologies continuing to improve over the last two decades, many laboratories are still using QuEChERS protocols developed for outdated instrumentation. Recently, QuEChERS has been updated into QuEChERSER (with “efficient and robust” being added to the portmanteau) to better take advantage of the features provided by modern sample preparation and analytical techniques. Most notably, QuEChERSER is a “mega-method” that covers a broader scope of polar and nonpolar analytes in diverse sample types. In this article, the new QuEChERSER approach and its advantages over QuEChERS are explained.
Collapse
|
5
|
Ambrus Á, Kerekes K, Szemánné-Dobrik H, Domák Z. Sources of Random Variation of Pesticide Residue Analytical Results. J AOAC Int 2021; 104:526-538. [PMID: 33417702 DOI: 10.1093/jaoacint/qsaa119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pesticide residues are analyzed in thousands of samples yearly by national authorities and private laboratories. Intensive research is ongoing to develop new methods or improve existing ones concentrating on extraction, cleanup, and detection techniques. Little attention has been paid to the contribution of prior steps in the determination process to overall laboratory sampling errors, though several publications demonstrate their practical importance. Consequently, the repeatability and reproducibility of the results are often reported based on the recovery tests alone. A few previous publications are cited in this paper which illustrate the magnitude of random errors derived from subsampling, comminution of analytical samples, and selection of small test portions. OBJECTIVES We aim to call attention to the importance of considering all steps of laboratory sampling and analysis processes in calculating the combined uncertainty of results and realistic performance assessments of methods including their long-term intermediate precision. METHOD Validation of laboratory sampling of large fruits is used to illustrate the recommended procedures, determination of their random error, and long-term method performance. RESULTS The results indicate that subsampling, comminution, and selection of test portions can be major contributors to the combined uncertainty of results. CONCLUSIONS All these steps should be considered in estimation of random variation (uncertainty) of measured residues. HIGHLIGHTS Random error of laboratory sampling for pesticide residues. Mass reduction of large crop units. Internal quality control of laboratory operations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Árpád Ambrus
- University of Debrecen, Doctoral School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Kata Kerekes
- National Food Chain Safety Office, System Management and Supervision Directorate, Kis Rókus str. 15/b, 1024 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Henriet Szemánné-Dobrik
- Food Chain Safety Centre Nonprofit Ltd., Pesticide Residue Analytical Laboratory, Miskolc, 3526 Miskolc, Blaskovics L. str. 24, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Domák
- National Food Chain Safety Office, Food Chain Safety Laboratory Directorate, Pesticide Analytical National Reference Laboratory, Ország út 23, 2481 Velence, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ferracane A, Zoccali M, Cacciola F, Salerno TMG, Tranchida PQ, Mondello L. Determination of multi-pesticide residues in vegetable products using a "reduced-scale" Quechers method and flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1645:462126. [PMID: 33848657 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present research was the development of an analytical method for the determination of multi-pesticide residues (88 target analytes) in four vegetable products (tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet red peppers and iceberg lettuce) using a "reduced-scale" QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction method and flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. In particular, the suitability of flow modulation [with relatively high second-dimension gas flow conditions (8 mL min-1)] for trace analyte determination was evaluated. The samples were prepared according to the QuEChERS procedure as reported by the official European Union method, namely EN 15662:2018, based on the use of 3 g of vegetable product. Matrix-matched calibration processes were carried out for all the samples. The figures-of-merit determined were recovery, linearity, precision, limits of detection (LoDs), and limits of quantification (LoQs). Specifically, recoveries were in the 53-160% range, regression coefficients were between 0.9156 and 0.9999, the LoDs were in the 0.1-6.3 μg kg-1 range, the LoQs were in the 3.0-21.0 μg kg-1 range, and coefficients of variation were between 1 and 28% (at the 50 μg kg-1 level).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Ferracane
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mariosimone Zoccali
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - Francesco Cacciola
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Tania Maria Grazia Salerno
- BeSep s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Peter Q Tranchida
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Luigi Mondello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; BeSep s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Department of Sciences and Technologies for Human and Environment, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jia XX, Yao ZY, Gao ZX, Fan ZC. The Role of Suspension Array Technology in Rapid Detection of Foodborne Pollutants: Applications and Future Challenges. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2021; 52:1408-1421. [PMID: 33611988 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2021.1882833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Food safety is an important livelihood issue, which has always been focused attention by countries and governments all over the world. As food supply chains are becoming global, food quality control is essential for consumer protection as well as for the food industry. In recent years, a great part of food analysis is carried out using new techniques for rapid detection. As the first biochip technology that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is an increasing interest in suspension array technology (SAT) for food and environmental analysis with advantages of rapidity, high accuracy, sensitivity, and throughput. Therefore, it is important for researchers to understand the development and application of this technology in food industry. Herein, we summarized the principle and composition of SAT and its application in food safety monitoring. The utility of SAT in detection of foodborne microorganisms, residues of agricultural and veterinary drugs, genetically modified food and allergens in recent years is elaborated, and the further development direction of SAT is envisaged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Xia Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, China International Scientific & Technological Cooperation Base for Health Biotechnology, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Yi Yao
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Xian Gao
- Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Chuan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, China International Scientific & Technological Cooperation Base for Health Biotechnology, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lehotay SJ, Michlig N, Lightfield AR. Assessment of Test Portion Sizes after Sample Comminution with Liquid Nitrogen in an Improved High-Throughput Method for Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:1468-1479. [PMID: 31945291 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b07685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, sample processing of bulk commodities using an efficient one-step comminution procedure with liquid nitrogen (LN2) was devised and assessed in the analysis of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. LN2 was added to the fresh samples from a tank by opening a valve, and the standard food chopper was kept in a laboratory hood to reduce safety risks. Test portions of four replicates each of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 g were taken from eight fruits and vegetables (tomato, squash, broccoli, apple, grape, peach, green bean, and cucumber) individually comminuted with LN2. For comparison without comminution, similar test portions of a reconstituted freeze-dried certified reference material of pesticides in cucumber were also analyzed by the same method. More than 100 pesticides were monitored by both ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and instrument top sample preparation (ITSP) + fast low-pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LPGC-MS/MS). A new version of QuEChERS-based sample preparation was followed, in which 5 mL of 4:1 (v/v) acetonitrile/water per gram of sample is used for extraction and 200 μL of initial extract is quickly evaporated, reconstituted in water, and ultracentrifuged for UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. For ITSP+LPGC-MS/MS, another portion of the initial extract undergoes salt-out partitioning with 4:1 (w/w) anhydrous MgSO4/NaCl and the upper layer extract is transferred to an autosampler vial for automated cleanup and analysis in parallel. Quality control spikes were made during the comminution, extraction, cleanup, and analysis steps to isolate and estimate the individual and overall measurement uncertainties of the approach. The recommended test portion size is 2 g for routine monitoring by this approach, but results demonstrated that subsamples as low as 0.5 g typically gave overall biases and relative standard deviations of <10% for nearly all pesticides, commodities, and methods, which is 3-5% lower than previously evaluated sample processing and analytical methods. This approach can be used to improve data quality, laboratory efficiency, and sample throughput in routine monitoring programs for regulatory, risk assessment, and other purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Lehotay
- Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service , United States Department of Agriculture , 600 East Mermaid Lane , Wyndmoor , Pennsylvania 19038 , United States
| | - Nicolás Michlig
- Programa de Investigación y Análisis de Residuos y Contaminantes Químicos (PRINARC), Facultad de Ingeniería Química , Universidad Nacional del Litoral , Santiago del Estero 2654 , 3000 Santa Fe , Argentina
| | - Alan R Lightfield
- Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service , United States Department of Agriculture , 600 East Mermaid Lane , Wyndmoor , Pennsylvania 19038 , United States
| |
Collapse
|