Utilization of long duration high-volume sampling coupled to SPME-GC-MS/MS for the assessment of airborne pesticides variability in an urban area (Strasbourg, France) during agricultural application

Abstract

Atmospheric samples have been collected between 14 March and 12 September 2012 on a 2-week basis (15 days of sampling and exchange of traps each 7 days) in Strasbourg (east of France) for the analysis of 43 pesticides. Samples (particle and gas phases) were separately extracted using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) and pre-concentrated by Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) before analysis by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Four SPME consecutive injections at distinct temperatures were made in order to increase the sensitivity of detection for the all monitored pesticides. Currently used detected pesticides can be grouped in four classes; those used in maize crops (acetochlor, benoxacor, dicamba, s-metolachlor, pendimethalin, and bromoxynil), in cereal crops (benoxacor, chlorothalonil, fenpropimorph, and propiconazole), in vineyards (tebuconazole), and as herbicides for orchards, meadows of green spaces (2,4-MCPA, trichlopyr). This is in accordance with the diversity of crops found in the Alsace region and trends observed are in accordance with the period of application of these pesticides. Variations observed permit also to demonstrate that the long time sampling duration used in this study is efficient to visualize temporal variations of airborne pesticides concentrations. Then, long time high-volume sampling could be a simple method permitting atmospheric survey of atmospheric contamination without any long analysis time and consequently low cost.

Assessment of pesticides volatilization potential based on their molecular properties using the TyPol tool

“…These pesticides are frequently detected in France and various countries (e.g. Bedos et al, 2010;Bedos et al, 2017;Degrendele et al, 2016;Désert et al, 2018;Follak et al, 2005;Houbraken et al, 2016;Liaud et al, 2016;Locke et al, 1996;Villiot et al, 2018;Whang et al, 1993), except dimethenamid-P and fenbuconazole for which no data could be found. The pesticides that were observed in the highest number of sites (four over five) were chlorothalonil (fungicide), dimethenamid-P and pendimethalin (two herbicides), while the highest concentrations were found for chlorpyrifos-methyl (insecticide; it has to be underlined that chlorpyrifos-methyl was recently banned in Europe in December 2019; EU -Pesticides database, 2020) followed by dimethenamid-P, pendimethalin, folpet (fungicide), S-metolachlor (herbicide) and chlorothalonil (Table 2; Fig.…”

Auxinic herbicides induce oxidative stress on Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

“…Anthropogenic activities, especially agriculture, release large amounts of pesticides daily into the soil, water and air (Ippolito et al, 2015;Liaud et al, 2016). Annually, approximately four million tons of pesticides are applied around the globe (Ippolito et al, 2015) and disseminated by drift, surface runoff, and drainage into the environment (Aparicio et al, 2013;.…”

Development of a headspace solid‐phase microextraction–surface‐enhanced Raman scattering approach to detect volatile pesticides

“…For example, GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) combined with solid‐phase extraction has been used for the determination of a group of 39 semivolatile compounds related to wine quality (pesticide residues, phenolic off‐flavours, phenolic pollutants, and bioactive stilbenes) . Solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) has also been applied in the detection of pesticides and other atmospheric contaminants by GC . The combination of HS and SPME makes chromatographic detection technology more powerful.…”

“…Compared with SERS, gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) are traditional methods that have been widely applied in the detection of volatile compounds for many years . Moreover, GC combined with solid‐phase extraction technology in headspace (HS) mode has great potential in the investigation of volatile and semivolatile compounds, such as pesticides and aromatic compounds . For example, GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) combined with solid‐phase extraction has been used for the determination of a group of 39 semivolatile compounds related to wine quality (pesticide residues, phenolic off‐flavours, phenolic pollutants, and bioactive stilbenes) .…”

“…Herein, we aim to fabricate and evaluate two SERS substrates based on a SPME fibre for capturing and detecting pesticides in the vapour phase. SPME fibres, coupled with GC and MS, have been widely used to detect organic compounds. Traditionally, GC‐based methods are used to monitor polar pesticides, such as organophosphates and pyrethroids .…”