Modern Analytical Methods for the Analysis of Pesticides in Grapes: A Review

Development and validation of rapid screening of 192 veterinary drug residues in aquatic products using HPLC-HRMS coupled with QuEChERS

The presence of veterinary drug residues in aquatic products represents a significant challenge to food safety. The current detection methods, limited in both scope and sensitivity, underscore the urgent need for more advanced techniques. This research introduces a swift and potent screening technique using high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) and a refined QuEChERS protocol, allowing simultaneous qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of 192 residues. A comprehensive database, employing full scan mode and data-dependent secondary mass spectroscopy, enhances screening accuracy. The method involves efficient extraction using 90% acetonitrile, dehydration with Na2SO4, and acetic acid, followed by cleanup using dispersive solid-phase extract sorbent primary secondary amine. It is suitable for samples with varying fat content, offering detection limits ranging from 0.5 to 10 μg/kg, high recovery rates (60-120%), and low relative standard deviations (<20%). Practical application has validated its effectiveness for multi-residue screening, marking a significant advancement in food safety evaluation.

The non-edible and disposable parts of oyster mushroom, as novel adsorbent for quantitative removal of atrazine and its degradation products from synthetic wastewater

In this study, the non-edible part of oyster mushroom was utilized for quantitative removal of the most commonly used s-triazine herbicide; atrazine and its breakdown products including deethylatrazine (DEA), hydroxyatrazine (ATOH) and deisopropylatrazine (DIA) from aqueous samples. The functional groups available on the oyster mushroom were studied applying FTIR before and after adsorption. Experimental parameters influencing the uptake process including acidity, sorbent mass, sorption time, initial analyte quantities, and agitation speed were analysed and the maximum removal was found at 4, 0.3 g, 120 min, 0.5 mg L-1, and 150 rpm, respectively. Accordingly, the adsorption capacities of 0.994, 1.113, 0.991 and 1.016 mg g-1 were obtained for DIA, DEA, ATOH and atrazine, respectively. The adsorption characteristics were discussed utilizing Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The fundamental characteristic of the Langmuir isotherm, which can be elaborated using separation factor or equilibrium parameter, RL, and coefficient of variation, R2, were (0.761, 0.996), (0.884, 0.975), (0.908, 0.983) and (0.799, 0.984) for DIA, DEA, ATOH and Atrazine, respectively. These findings showed that all analytes' adsorption processes were fitted well to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating that the adsorbent surface was covered in a monolayer. The kinetics was also evaluated using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. The coefficient of determination, r2, were found to be 0.09703, 0.9989, 0.9967 and 0.9998 for DIA DEA, ATOH and atrazine, respectively, for pseudo-second order, signifying that, all analytes were found to follow the pseudo-second order rate model showing that the rate limiting step is chemisorption in the sorption process. Based on these findings, the non-edible and disposable part of the oyster mushrooms can be utilized as a preferred alternative biosorbent for the uptake of the target compounds analysed and other pollutants possessing comparable physicochemical characteristics occurring in various water bodies.

Optimization of a QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method for 51 pesticide residues followed by determination of the residue levels and dietary intake risk assessment in foodstuffs

A modified QuEChERS purification-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed to determine 51 pesticide residues with newly established maximum residue limits (MRLs) in foodstuffs. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile under citrate-buffered conditions and purified using a modified QuEChERS method employing hydroxylated MWCNTs, SAX, and C18. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.2 to 9.8 µg/kg. Recoveries in ten different foodstuffs ranged from 70.2% to 117.9%, with relative standard deviations between 2.3% and 19.9% at three spiking levels. This method was applied to analyze 352 market samples, detecting 14 pesticides in 97 samples. Notably, Afidopyropen, cyantraniliprole, and fluxapyroxad residues in vegetables exhibited a consistent pattern of higher levels in the spring and winter and lower levels in the summer and autumn. Moreover, the risk assessments for acute and chronic dietary exposure to the 14 detected pesticides indicated that the %ADI and %ARfD were well below 100%.

Optimizing Analysis Methods: Rapid and Accurate Determination of Cuaminosulfate Residues with LC-MS/MS Based on Box-Behnken Design Study

In view of the defects in the previous detection of cuaminosulfate, which only focused on the analysis of copper ions, there is currently no analysis method available to determine the actual state of cuaminosulfate as chelated or bound. In order to investigate the dissipation and terminal residues in soil and watermelon of cuaminosulfate for food safety and environmental risk, a highly effective technique was developed to detect cuaminosulfate residues in watermelon and soil, and field experiments were conducted in China. After single-factor experiments, residual cuaminosulfate in samples was extracted by pure water, purified using a liquid-liquid approach combined with a dispersive solid-phase extraction, and detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The Box-Behnken design (BBD) study was used to find the optimal solutions for the time of liquid-liquid purification, the amount of extraction solvent, and the amounts of cleanup sorbents for the analytical method. The average recovery of the method was in the range of 80.0% to 101.1%, the average relative standard deviation (RSD) was 5.3-9.9%, and the detection limit was lower than 0.05 mg/kg. The BBD study not only improved the extraction rate of the method, but also saved time and was operated easily. The final residues of cuaminosulfate in watermelon at different sampling intervals were all lower than 0.05 mg/kg under field conditions. The cuaminosulfate in soils dissipated following exponential kinetics, with half-life values in the range of 9.39 to 12.58 days, which varied by different locations. Based on the validated method, food safety residues and soil residues can be determined rapidly and accurately.

Low-dose thiram exposure elicits dysregulation of the gut microbial ecology in broiler chickens

Thiram, a typical fungicide pesticide, is widely used in agricultural production. The presence of thiram residues is not only due to over-utilization, but is also primarily attributed to long-term accumulation. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the impact of prolonged utilization of thiram at low doses on the gut microbiota, particularly with respect to gut fungi. Our objective is to explore the effect of thiram on broilers from the perspective of gut microbiota, which includes both bacteria and fungi. We developed a long-term low-dose thiram model to simulate thiram residue and employed 16 S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing to investigate the diversity and profile of gut microbiota between group CC (normal diet) and TC (normal diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg thiram). The results revealed that low doses of thiram had a detrimental effect on broiler's growth performance, resulting in an approximate reduction of 669.33 g in their final body weight at day 45. Our findings indicated that low-dose thiram had a negative impact on the gut bacterial composition, leading to a notable reduction in the abundance of Merdibacter, Paenibacillus, Macrococcus, Fournierella, and Anaeroplasma (p < 0.05) compared to the CC group. Conversely, the relative level of Myroides was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in response to thiram exposure. In gut fungi, thiram significantly enhanced the diversity and richness of gut fungal populations (p < 0.05), as evidenced by the notable increase in alpha indices, i.e. ACE (CC: 346.49 ± 117.27 vs TC: 787.27 ± 379.14, p < 0.05), Chao 1 (CC: 317.63 ± 69.13 vs TC: 504.85 ± 104.50, p < 0.05), Shannon (CC: 1.28 ± 1.19 vs TC: 5.39 ± 2.66, p < 0.05), Simpson (CC: 0.21 ± 0.21 vs TC: 0.78 ± 0.34, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of Ascomycota, Kickxellomycota, and Glomeromycota were significantly increased (p < 0.05) by exposure to thiram, conversely, the level of Basidiomycota was decreased (p < 0.05) in the TC group compared to the CC group. Overall, this study demonstrated that low doses of thiram induced significant changes in the composition and abundance of gut microbiota in broilers, with more pronounced changes observed in the gut fungal community as compared to the gut bacterial community. Importantly, our findings further emphasize the potential risks associated with low dose thiram exposure and have revealed a novel discovery indicating that significant alterations in gut fungi may serve as the crucial factor contributing to the detrimental effects exerted by thiram residues.

Matrix Effect Evaluation in GC/MS-MS Analysis of Multiple Pesticide Residues in Selected Food Matrices

Multi-analyte methods based on QuEChERS sample preparation and chromatography/mass spectrometry determination are indispensable in monitoring pesticide residues in the feed and food chain. QuEChERS method, even though perceived as convenient and generic, can contribute to sample matrix constituents' introduction to the measuring system and possibly affect analytical results. In this study, matrix effects (ME) were investigated in four food matrices of plant origin (apples, grapes, spelt kernels, and sunflower seeds) during GC-MS/MS analysis of >200 pesticide residues using QuEChERS sample preparation. Data analysis revealed considerable analyte signal enhancement and suppression: strong enhancement was observed for the majority of analytes in two matrices within the commodity groups with high water content-apples, and high acid and water content-grapes (73.9% MES and 72.5% MEA, and 77.7% MES and 74.9% MEA, respectively), while strong suppression was observed for matrices within the commodity groups with high starch/protein content and low water and fat content-spelt kernels, and high oil content and very low water content-sunflower seeds (82.1% MES and 82.6% MEA, and 65.2% MES and 70.0% MEA, respectively). Although strong matrix effects were the most common for all investigated matrices, the use of matrix-matched calibration for each sample type enabled satisfactory method performance, i.e., recoveries for the majority of analytes (up to roughly 90%, depending on the fortification level and matrix type), which was also externally confirmed through participation in proficiency testing schemes for relevant food commodity groups with the achieved z-scores within acceptable range ≤ |2|.

Recent Advancements in Liquid Chromatographic Techniques to Estimate Pesticide Residues Found in Medicinal Plants around the Globe

In the present review article, different advanced liquid chromatographic techniques and the advanced techniques other than liquid chromatography that are used to estimate the pesticide residues from different plant-based samples are presented. In the beginning of the article, details of pesticides, their health effects and various cell lines used for the related study has been outlined. Afterward, detailed descriptions regarding pesticides classification are inscribed. In the end, recent advancements in the area of analysis of pesticides for herbal drugs are explained. Solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) are considered as most common method of sample preparation for pesticides and its residual analysis. The most commonly used analytical separation technique for pesticide analysis is liquid chromatography (LC) integrated with mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS as Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QqQ) for the samples analysis where high level of sensitivity and accuracy is required in quantification.