Simplified gas chromatographic analysis of pesticides from blood

Abstract

A rapid method for the extraction and identification of 23 pesticides present in blood is described. The pesticides are extracted from blood with a mixture of acetone and ethyl ether in equal volumes. The extracts are evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in a known quantity of hexane and an aliquot injected directly into the gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. No purification of the acetone-ether extract is required. A glass column packed with 5% SE 52 on hexamethyldisilizane-treated chromosorb W 60180 is used at a temperature of 190". The method was successfully applied to blood from laboratory animals to which acute doses of six of the most common pesticides were given orally. The quantity of pesticides found is reported.YSTEMATIC schemes for the isolation and identification of toxic S substances are largely confined to conventional poisons. With the advent of many new compounds having toxic properties, the deficiencies of the classical procedures have been made more obvious. This is especially true of the group of pesticides which includes chlorinated hydrocarbons and organophosphorus compounds. Symptoms associated with these have been treated as chronic rather than acute effects, and analysis has largely been directed towards the control of pesticide residues on foodstuffs.Acute poisoning from these materials is increasing and the toxicologist needs to be able to identify rapidly and with certainty the presence in physiological materials of acutely toxic quantities of such materials. The quantities of pesticides in such cases are so small, and the conventional tests so insensitive and non-specific, that these poisons may readily be overlooked. It is therefore essential to make available simple and rapid methods of extraction to be used with detection methods to ensure that toxic material is not overlooked. Also the procedure should not require extensive clean up of the extracts before it can be applied.Various papers have been published (

Extraction and gas chromatographic analysis of chlorinated insecticides from animal tissues

“…The averaged results for each insecticide with each tissue, expressed as per cent recovery, are summarized in Table I. High quantitative yields were obtained for all the hydro- The yields reported in Table I compare favorably with those reported in the literature (3,6,7). This extraction procedure has the advantage of being applicable to a variety of different tissues and to a number of commonly used chlorinated hydrocarbons.…”

Detection of parathion in plasma by electron capture gas chromatography without prior cleanup

“…methyl parathion (internal standard) 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the intravenous administration of parathion. These levels are approximately one-tenth those reported by Jain et al (1965) in rat whole blood. These workers administered parathion (5 mg./kg.)…”

Detection of Organophosphate Pesticides in Blood Serum from the Patients Suspected of Acute and Chronic Pesticides Poisonings and Its Clinical Significance

“…Many kinds of methods have been introduced to detect minor amounts of organophos phate pesticides (Jain et al 1965, Kanazawa 1969, Vukovich et al 1969, Kashiwa et al 1971). The present study, however, revealed that gas chromatography with flame thermio nic detector is quite sensitive and suitable for detecting such compounds.…”