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Multiresidue method to quantify pesticides in fish muscle by QuEChERS-based extraction and LC-MS/MS

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Abstract

Pesticide residues in fish muscle are an environmental and a health safety concern which requires analytical methods presenting high sensitivity and low limits of quantification. In this study, adapted QuEChERS method, coupled to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (Scheduled MRM-5500 QTRAP), was developed to quantify 13 pesticides (azoxystrobin, clomazone, diflufenican, dimethachlor, carbendazim, iprodion, isoproturon, mesosulfuron-methyl, metazachlor, napropamid, quizalofop and thifensulfuron-methyl) in muscle of fish. Quantification limits were below 1 ng g−1 except for clomazone (1.8 ng g−1) and quizalofop (7.4 ng g−1). Best recoveries were observed for perch (>80%) and roach (>68%), except for thifensulfuron-methyl. Lower recoveries had been observed for carp (6% to 86%). Relative standard deviation was lower than 28% for intra-day and 29% for inter-day analysis, respectively. This method was successfully tested on three fish species, naturally or orally exposed: roach (Rutilus rutilus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and carp (Cyprinus carpio). Few levels were observed in fish naturally exposed, but carp and perch orally contaminated showed measurable levels in their muscles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Agence de l'Eau Rhin-Meuse and the Zone Atelier Moselle, which are gratefully acknowledged.

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Correspondence to Cécile Cren-Olivé.

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Lazartigues, A., Wiest, L., Baudot, R. et al. Multiresidue method to quantify pesticides in fish muscle by QuEChERS-based extraction and LC-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 400, 2185–2193 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-4945-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-4945-z

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