Application of fabric phase sorptive extraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in selected vegetable samples

For the appropriate protection of human health it is necessary to accurately estimate the health effects of human exposure to toxic compounds. In the present review, epidemiological studies on the health effects of human exposure to organophosphorus (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) insecticides have been critically assessed. This review is focused on studies where the exposure assessment was based on quantification of specific biomarkers in urine or plasma. The 49 studies reviewed used different epidemiological approaches and analytical methods as well as different exposure assessment methodologies. With regard to OP pesticides, the studies reviewed suggested negative effects of prenatal exposure to these pesticides on neurodevelopment and male reproduction. Neurologic effects on adults, DNA damage and adverse birth outcomes were also associated with exposure to OP pesticides. With regard to exposure to PYR pesticides, there are currently few studies investigating the adverse health outcomes due to these pesticides. The effects studied in relation to PYR exposure were mainly male reproductive effects (sperm quality, sperm DNA damage and reproductive hormone disorders). Studies' findings provided evidence to support the hypothesis that PYR exposure is adversely associated with effects on the male reproductive system. The validity of these epidemiological studies is strongly enhanced by exposure assessment based on biomarker quantification. However, for valid and reliable results and conclusions, attention should also be focused on the validity of the analytical methods used, study designs and the measured toxicants characteristics. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel adsorbent composed of silica coated magnetic microparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2) and graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with phenylethyl amine (PEA) was synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and CHN elemental analysis techniques. The adsorbent (Fe3O4@SiO2@GO-PEA) was then used in a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of six organophosphorous pesticides (OPPs) including methyl parathion, fenitrothion, methidathion, ethion, methyl azinphos and coumaphos prior to gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detection (GC-NPD). The fabricated adsorbent combines the advantages of superior adsorption capability of modified GO and magnetic separability of magnetite microparticles to provide high adsorption capacity, and easy isolation from sample solutions. The main experimental parameters affecting the extraction recovery of OPPs including extraction time, pH, adsorbent dosage, salt concentration, and desorption conditions were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, linear responses were obtained in the concentration range of 0.06-200μgL(-1) with the determination coefficients (R(2)) between 0.9945 and 0.9996. The limits of detection were from 0.02 to 0.1μgL(-1) and the intraday and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 4.8 and 6.4%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for determination of the OPPs in apple, grape, pear, bell pepper, celery and water samples. The obtained recoveries were in the range of 90.4-108.0% (RSDs=1.9-6.6%, n=3) for fruits and vegetables, and 94.6-104.2% (RSDs=2.0-4.8%, n=3) for water samples. The excellent extraction performance of the adsorbent can be attributed to its structure characteristics where the phenyl rings of PEA grafted on the GO nanosheets are accessible to interact effectively with OPPs via delocalized π-electron system.