Assessing children's dietary pesticide exposure: direct measurement of pesticide residues in 24-hr duplicate food samples.

BACKGROUND: The data presented here are a response to calls for more direct measurements of pesticide residues in foods consumed by children and provide an opportunity to compare direct measures of pesticide residues in foods representing actual consumption with those reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. OBJECTIVE: We measured pesticide residues in 24-hr duplicate food samples collected from a group of 46 young children participating in the Children's Pesticide Exposure Study (CPES). METHODS: Parents were instructed to collect 24-hr duplicate food samples of all conventional fruits, vegetables, and fruit juices equal to the quantity consumed by their children, similarly prewashed/ prepared, and from the same source or batch. Individual or composite food items were analyzed for organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid insecticide residues. RESULTS: We collected a total of 239 24-hr duplicate food samples collected from the 46 CPES children. We found 14% or 5% of those food samples contained at least one OP or pyrethroid insecticide, respectively. We measured a total of 11 OP insecticides, at levels ranging from 1 to 387 ng/g, and three pyrethroid insecticides, at levels ranging from 2 to 1,133 ng/g, in children's food samples. We found that many of the food items consumed by the CPES children were also on the list of the most contaminated food commodities reported by the Environmental Working Group. CONCLUSIONS: The frequent consumption of food commodities with episodic presence of pesticide residues that are suspected to cause developmental and neurological effects in young children supports the need for further mitigation.

Multiresidue pesticide analysis of ginseng powders using acetonitrile- or acetone-based extraction, solid-phase extraction cleanup, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/selective ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) or -tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

A multiresidue method for the analysis of 168 pesticides in dried powdered ginseng has been developed using acetonitrile or acetone mixture (acetone/cyclohexane/ethyl acetate, 2:1:1 v/v/v) extraction, solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup with octyl-bonded silica (C(8)), graphitized carbon black/primary-secondary amine (GCB/PSA) sorbents and toluene, and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/selective ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) or -tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The geometric mean limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 53 and 6 microg/kg for the acetonitrile extraction and 48 and 7 microg/kg for the acetone-based extraction for GC-MS/SIM and GC-MS/MS, respectively. Mean percent recoveries and standard deviations from the ginseng fortified at 25, 100, and 500 microg/kg using GC-MS/SIM were 87 +/- 10, 88 +/- 8, and 86 +/- 10% from acetonitrile extracts and 88 +/- 13, 88 +/- 12, and 88 +/- 14% from acetone mixture extracts, respectively. The mean percent recoveries from the ginseng at the 25, 100, and 500 microg/kg levels using GC-MS/MS were 83 +/- 19, 90 +/- 13, and 89 +/- 11% from acetonitrile extracts and 98 +/- 20, 91 +/- 13, and 88 +/- 14% from acetone extracts, respectively. Twelve dried ginseng products were found to contain one or more of the following pesticides and their metabolites: BHCs (benzene hexachlorides, alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-), chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, DDT (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane), dacthal, diazinon, iprodione, quintozene, and procymidone ranging from <1 to >4000 microg/kg. No significant differences were found between the two extraction solvents, and GC-MS/MS was found to be more specific and sensitive than GC-MS/SIM. The procedures described were shown to be effective in screening, identifying, confirming, and quantitating pesticides in commercial ginseng products.

Multiresidue pesticide analysis in fresh produce by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/selective ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) and -tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

A multiresidue method for the analysis of pesticides in fresh produce has been developed using salt-out acetonitrile extraction, solid-phase dispersive cleanup with octadecyl-bonded silica (C(18)), and graphitized carbon black/primary-secondary amine (GCB/PSA) sorbents and toluene, followed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (GC-MS/SIM) or -tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Quantitation was determined from calibration curves using matrix-matched standards ranging from 3.3 to 6667 ng/mL with r(2) > 0.99, and geometric mean limits of quantitation were typically 8.4 and 3.4 microg/kg for GC-MS/SIM and GC-MS/MS, respectively. Identification was determined by using target and qualifier ions and qualifier-to-target ratios for GC-MS/SIM and two ion transitions for GC-MS/MS. Fortification studies (10, 25, 100, and 500 microg/kg) were performed on 167 organohalogen, organophosphorus, and pyrethroid pesticides in 10 different commodities (apple, broccoli, carrot, onion, orange, pea, peach, potato, spinach, and tomato). The mean percent recoveries were 90 +/- 14, 87 +/- 14, 89 +/- 14, and 92 +/- 14% for GC-MS/SIM and 95 +/- 22, 93 +/- 14, 93 +/- 13, and 97 +/- 13% for GC-MS/MS at 10, 25, 100, and 500 microg/kg, respectively. GC-MS/MS was shown to be more effective than GC-MS/SIM due to its specificity and sensitivity in detecting pesticides in fresh produce samples. The method, based on concepts from the multiresidue procedure used by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe), was shown to be efficient in screening, identifying, and quantitating pesticides in fresh produce samples.

Rapid method for the determination and confirmation of fluoroquinolone residues in catfish using liquid chromatography/fluorescence detection and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A simplified method for the extraction and determination of four fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, and difloxacin) in catfish is presented. In this method, the FQ residues were extracted with acidified acetonitrile, and the extract was defatted with dispersive C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent or hexane. A portion of the extract was evaporated and reconstituted in the mobile phase. The quantitative determination was accomplished with LC-fluorescence detection (FLD), and the confirmation was by LC-MS/MS. Fortifications of catfish tissue were carried out at 0.5x, x, 2x, and 4x, where x = 5 ppb (U.S. Food and Drug Administration current regulatory target level). Recoveries for the LC/FLD determination of five replicates (for both cleanup routes) at each level ranged from 64 to 98%, with RSD values <8%. The method quantitation limits for all residues were <1 ng/g. The LC-MS/MS analysis of the same extracts confirmed all FQ residues at all levels. This method is an improvement over existing methodologies since additional cleanup steps, such as cation exchange SPE column cleanup, are not utilized. The C18 dispersive SPE method represents a novel cleanup approach for FQs in fish tissue.

Multiresidue analysis of 102 organophosphorus pesticides in produce at parts-per-billion levels using a modified QuEChERS method and gas chromatography with pulsed flame photometric detection.

A multiresidue method for the analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in fresh produce at levels down to 1.0 microg/kg (ppb) has been developed using a modification of the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) procedure. The procedure entails extraction of pesticides from the sample with acetonitrile, salting-out with magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and sodium chloride, and cleanup of the resulting extracts with dispersive solid-phase extraction using primary-secondary amine, graphitized carbon black, and MgSO4. Fortification studies were performed for 102 organophosphorus pesticides at 1.0, 10, and 100 ppb in 4 different pesticide-free commodities (grape, orange, spinach, and tomato). Recoveries ranged from 63-125%, with >80% being achieved for most of the pesticides tested in each commodity. The procedure was applied to the analysis of 400 produce samples collected from a cohort of children that participated in the Children's Pesticide Exposure Study and the Longitudinal Dietary Pesticide Exposure Study in which selected 24 h duplicate food items were collected throughout a 12-month period. Residues of 15 of the 102 pesticides were detected at levels ranging from <1 to 526 ppb.

Multiresidue pesticide analysis of wines by dispersive solid-phase extraction and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A multiresidue pesticide method is described for the determination of 72 pesticides in wines. Pesticides were extracted using acetonitrile saturated with magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride, followed by solid-phase dispersive cleanup using primary-secondary amine and graphitized carbon black sorbents. Analysis is performed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQs) for most of the pesticides ranged from 0.3 to 3.3 µg/L with the exception of cyromazine, fenhexamid, and acibenzolar S-methyl (LOQ > 10 µg/L), and quantitation was determined from calibration curves of standards containing 5.0-2500 µg/L with r(2) > 0.99. Recovery studies were performed by fortifying wine samples with the pesticides to concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 µg/L, resulting in recoveries of >80% for most of the pesticides. Lower (<70%) and higher (>120%) recoveries were most likely from complications of pesticide lability or volatility, matrix interference, or inefficient desorption from the solid-phase sorbents. The method was used to analyze 10 wines collected from a market basket survey, and 19 different pesticides, primarily fungicides, were present at concentrations ranging from <1.0 to 1000 µg/L.

A rapid multiresidue method for determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables by using acetonitrile extraction/partitioning and solid-phase extraction column cleanup.

A modification of a rapid and inexpensive multiresidue method for determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables (QuEChERS method) is presented. Samples were extracted by shaking with acetic acid-acetonitrile (1 + 99). Water was removed by liquid-liquid partitioning with magnesium sulfate and sodium acetate. The extract was subjected to a single solid-phase extraction (SPE) column cleanup, which produced a cleaner extract than did the dispersive SPE cleanup used in the original QuEChERS method. Recovery data were obtained for 316 pesticide residues, at levels ranging from 20 ppb to 1.0 ppm. Data were provided by 3 different laboratories. The modified QuEChERS method resulted in a 65% reduction in solvent usage, when compared with the traditional multiresidue methods previously used in our laboratories.

Analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in dried ground ginseng root by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and -flame photometric detection.

A method was developed to determine organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in dried ground ginseng root. Pesticides were extracted from the sample using acetonitrile/water saturated with salts, followed by solid-phase dispersive cleanup, and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with electron ionization mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring mode (GC-MS/SIM) and flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) in phosphorus mode. The detection limits for most of the pesticides were 0.025-0.05 microg/g using GC-FPD but were analyte-dependent for GC-MS/SIM, ranging from 0.005 to 0.50 microg/g. Quantitation was determined from 0.050 to 5.0 microg/g with r 2 > 0.99 for a majority of the pesticides using both detectors. Recovery studies were performed by fortifying the dried ground ginseng root samples to concentrations of 0.025, 0.1, and 1.0 microg/g, resulting in recoveries of >90% for most pesticides by GC-FPD. Lower (<70%) and higher (>120%) recoveries were most likely from complications of pesticide lability or volatility, matrix interference, or inefficient desorption from the solid-phase sorbents. There was difficulty in analyzing the ginseng samples for the OPs using GC-MS at the lower fortification levels for some of the OPs due to lack of confirmation. GC-FPD and GC-MS/SIM complement each other in detecting the OPs in dried ground ginseng root samples. This procedure was shown to be effective and was applied to the analysis of OPs in ginseng root samples. One particular sample, a ground and dried American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) root sample, was found to contain diazinon quantified at approximately 25 microg/kg by external calibration using matrix-matched standards or standard addition using both detectors. The advantage of using both detectors is that confirmation can be achieved using GC-MS, whereas the use of a megabore column in GC-FPD can be used to quantitate some of the nonpolar OPs without the use of matrix-matched standards or standard addition.

Use of Griess reagent containing vanadium(III) for post-column derivatization and simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in baby food.

An ion chromatographic method with post-column derivatization and spectrophotometric detection is presented for the determination of nitrate and nitrite (NOx) in baby food. NOx residues found naturally or added as preservatives were extracted from baby foods and determined by using ion chromatography with post-column derivatization and spectrophotometric detection. Nitrate was reduced to nitrite online by post-column reduction using vanadium(lll) chloride and heat. Nitrite reacted with Griess reagent to produce a dye that was detected at 525 nm. The use of V(III) and heat to promote the reduction of nitrate to nitrite online is a novel feature of this detection system. The determination of incurred NOx residues in samples by using AOAC Method 993.03 yielded results comparable to those obtained by ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection. The toxic and carcinogenic metal cadmium used in the AOAC Method to reduce the nitrate to nitrite was avoided. The proposed method provides simultaneous determination of nitrate and nitrite. Average recoveries of nitrate and nitrite residues ranged from 82 to 107% for fortification levels of 25-400 ppm.

Liquid chromatographic determination of N-methyl carbamate pesticide residues at low parts-per-billion levels in eggs.

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method is presented for the analysis of N-methyl carbamate pesticide residues and piperonyl butoxide in eggs at levels as low as 2 microg/kg (ppb). The study was undertaken to provide data for dietary exposure estimates used in risk analysis. The method uses an acetonitrile extraction followed by liquid-liquid partitioning and normal-phase aminopropyl solid-phase extraction column cleanup. Determination of residues is by reversed-phase LC with an inline postcolumn reaction followed by fluorescence detection. The average recoveries of 21 fortified (most at 2.0 and 20.0 ppb) N-methyl carbamate pesticide residues and the carbamate metabolite 1-naphthol from eggs ranged from 70 to 107%. Recoveries of the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide ranged from 63 to 106%. Single-comb White Leghorn hens were treated with the carbamate carbaryl, and the eggs subsequently produced were analyzed for carbaryl and 1-naphthol residues.

Assessing the consequences of the pesticide methoxychlor: neuroendocrine and behavioral measures as indicators of biological impact of an estrogenic environmental chemical.

Japanese quail provide an advantageous avian model for assessing long-term biological consequences of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These studies examined route of exposure and vulnerability to biological impact of EDCs over the life cycle in a precocial avian model, the Japanese quail. Embryonic exposure occurs with maternal deposition and methoxychlor (MXC) accumulated with maternal exposure. Egg injections of MXC or estradiol at selected stages of development impacted hypothalamic neuroendocrine systems in hatchlings and affected sexual maturation, with evidence for long-term effects on neurotransmitters and male behavior. Two-generation dietary studies were conducted to examine transgenerational effects of EDCs. Adult quail (P1) were exposed to dietary MXC (0, 0.5 and 5 ppm), with continued exposure in their offspring (F1), and control diet for all F2 chicks. Toxicological end points, including fertility, hatching success, and 14-day viability were unaffected. F1 and F2 male offspring from MXC-treated pairs MXC had impaired mating behavior and altered plasma hormones. These studies confirm neuroendocrine and behavioral measures as reliable indices of exposure to an estrogenic EDC. Moreover, maternal deposition remains a primary route of EDC exposure, with potential deleterious consequences for field birds, especially precocial species that appear to be particularly sensitive to embryonic EDC exposure.

Ion chromatographic determination of nitrate and nitrite in vegetable and fruit baby foods.

An ion chromatographic method was developed for the determination of nitrate and nitrite in vegetable and fruit baby foods. The introduction of nitrate or nitrite to food may be natural or artificial as a preservative. Because of the higher pH found in babies' stomachs, nitrate can act as a reservoir for the production of nitrite by nitrate-reducing bacteria that can be harbored in the intestinal tract. This problem does not exist in adults because of the lower pH of the adult stomach. Exposure to nitrite by infants can result in methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome). There are also indications that carcinogenic nitrosamines can be formed from nitrates at the higher pH. These gastric conditions disappear at approximately 6 months of age. In this method, nitrate and nitrite were separated on a hydroxide-selective anion exchange column using online electrolytically generated high-purity hydroxide eluant and detected using suppressed conductivity detection. Average recoveries of spiked nitrite residue ranged from 91 to 104% and spiked nitrate residue ranged from 87 to 104%. This method and the AOAC Official Method yield comparable results for samples containing incurred nitrate residue. In addition, this method eliminates the hazardous waste associated with the use of cadmium found in the AOAC Official Method.

Multiresidue method for N-methyl carbamates and metabolite pesticide residues at the parts-per-billion level in selected representative commodities of fruit and vegetable crop groups.

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method with both fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection is presented for the determination of 13 parent N-methyl carbamate pesticides and their metabolites, as well as piperonyl butoxide, for a total of 24 compounds in selected fruits and vegetables. The commodities chosen were of special concern to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because they had the least amount of monitoring data for dietary exposure estimates used in risk assessment. The method is based on a judicious selection of procedures from U.S. Food and Drug Administration sources such as the Pesticide Analytical Manual (Volume I), and Laboratory Information Bulletins, plus additional material from the chemical literature combined in a manner to recover the N-methyl carbamates and their metabolites at the 1 microg/kg or 1 part-per-billion level. The method uses an acetone extraction, followed by an aminopropyl solid-phase extraction cleanup. Determination of residues is by RP-LC, in which the liquid chromatograph is interfaced with either a fluorescence or a mass spectrometric detector. The method is designed so that a set of 6 samples can be prepared in 1 working day for overnight instrumental analysis. Recovery data are presented from analyses of selected commodities in some of EPA's fruit and vegetable crop groupings. A table listing relative retention times is presented for the N-methyl carbamates and their metabolites.

Modifications and adaptations of the Charm II rapid antibody assay for chloramphenicol in honey.

The Charm II screening method for the presence of chloramphenicol in honey has a sensitivity of 0.3 ppb. This screening method is a simple, rapid antibody assay using [3H]chloramphenicol and a binding reagent. Analysis of different types of honey revealed considerable differences in results. Honey can be liquid, crystallized (creamed), or partially crystallized and is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture into seven color categories: water white, extra white, white, extra light amber, light amber, amber, and dark amber. Fortified and nonfortified liquid amber honey tested appropriately with the Charm II unit and the negative control provided with the unit after slight modifications were made. However, approximately 70% of creamed honey samples fortified at 0.6 ppb did not test positive for the presence of chloramphenicol using the provided negative control. Matrix quenching effects were evaluated, and these effects were accounted for by establishing different assay conditions for different honey types.

Fast and easy multiresidue method employing acetonitrile extraction/partitioning and "dispersive solid-phase extraction" for the determination of pesticide residues in produce.

A simple, fast, and inexpensive method for the determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is introduced. The procedure involves initial single-phase extraction of 10 g sample with 10 mL acetonitrile, followed by liquid-liquid partitioning formed by addition of 4 g anhydrous MgSO4 plus 1 g NaCl. Removal of residual water and cleanup are performed simultaneously by using a rapid procedure called dispersive solid-phase extraction (dispersive-SPE), in which 150 mg anhydrous MgSO4 and 25 mg primary secondary amine (PSA) sorbent are simply mixed with 1 mL acetonitrile extract. The dispersive-SPE with PSA effectively removes many polar matrix components, such as organic acids, certain polar pigments, and sugars, to some extent from the food extracts. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is then used for quantitative and confirmatory analysis of GC-amenable pesticides. Recoveries between 85 and 101% (mostly > 95%) and repeatabilities typically < 5% have been achieved for a wide range of fortified pesticides, including very polar and basic compounds such as methamidophos, acephate, omethoate, imazalil, and thiabendazole. Using this method, a single chemist can prepare a batch of 6 previously chopped samples in < 30 min with approximately 1 dollar (U.S.) of materials per sample.

Comparison of magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate for removal of water from pesticide extracts of foods.

Water-miscible solvents, such as acetone and acetonitrile, effectively extract both polar and nonpolar pesticide residues from nonfatty foods. The addition of sodium chloride to the resulting acetonitrile-water or acetone-water extract (salting out) results in the separation of the water from the organic solvent. However, the organic solvent layer (pesticide extract) still contains some residual water, which can adversely affect separation procedures that follow, such as solid-phase extraction and/or gas chromatography. Drying agents, such as sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate, are used to remove the water from the organic extracts. In the present study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the composition of the phases resulting from salting out and to compare the effectiveness of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate as drying agents. The study showed that considerable amounts of water remained in the organic phase after phase separation. Sodium sulfate was a relatively ineffective drying agent, removing little or no residual water from the organic solvent. Magnesium sulfate proved to be a much more effective drying agent.

Modeling Drug Residue Uptake by Eggs: Evidence of a Consistent Daily Pattern of Contaminant Transfer into Developing Preovulatory Yolks.

A study was conducted to determine if the chicken ovary deposits the pesticide lindane into preovulatory egg yolks in a daily pattern similar to that previously reported for both of the antibiotics ampicillin and oxytetracycline. Our laboratory has proposed that a variety of drugs or contaminants are deposited into preovulatory yolks in a consistent manner. This possibility of a consistent pattern of drug deposition in preovulatory yolks has been used as a foundation for a model which predicts the pattern of residues contained in laid eggs. In two separate experiments, 16 hens were dosed with 3 mg of lindane per kg of body weight orally approximately 1 h after oviposition (8 hens per experiment). Twenty-four hours following dosing, hens were sacrificed and the ovaries were collected. Yolks were dissected free from the individual follicles with a blunt probe. Individual large (≥0.2 g) yellow yolks and a pool of 5 small (<0.2 g) yellow yolks were collected for determination of lindane content. Samples were prepared and assayed by using a gas chromatography method. Results indicate the pattern of incorporation of lindane residues in developing yolks is similar to the previous pattern obtained for both ampicillin and oxytetracycline. These data confirm the possibility that diverse chemical compounds may be incorporated into preovulatory yolks in a similar pattern, supporting a key component of our model, which predicts the pattern of incurred residues in laid eggs for a variety of drugs or contaminants.