## Breadcrumb

-  Publications 
-  Reports 

#           Methods of analysis—Determination of pesticides in filtered water and suspended sediment using liquid chromatography- and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry              

      January 31, 2024    

View Report

XML Format

HTML Format

The widespread application of pesticides in agricultural and urban areas leads to their presence in surface waters. Presence of these biologically active chemicals in environmental waters potentially has adverse effects on nontarget organisms. To better understand the environmental fate of these contaminants, a robust method to capture chemicals with wide-ranging physicochemical properties has been developed. The method was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Organic Chemistry Research Laboratory to monitor pesticides, pesticide degradates, and other agrochemicals in environmental surface waters throughout the country. The analysis involves a multiresidue method to determine 183 pesticides and pesticide degradates in filtered water samples and 178 pesticides and pesticide degradates in paired suspended sediment samples. After the filtration of whole water, contaminants are individually measured in the filtered water and the collected suspended sediment. Filtered water is extracted via solid-phase extraction, whereas suspended sediment is extracted using an ultrasonication, solid-liquid extraction. Samples are analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using an electrospray ionization source in positive and negative modes and analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using an advanced electron ionization source in positive mode. Instrument parameters were optimized for the highest sensitivity, and at least two transitions (quantifier and qualifier) were monitored for each analyte.

Recoveries in test filtered water (n=9; 183 analytes) from the American River, California, and suspended sediment (n=9; 178 analytes) samples fortified at 15 nanograms per liter (ng/L) ranged from 70.1 to 121.0 and 71.1 to 117.0 percent in water and suspended sediment filter samples, respectively. Method detection limits of pesticides and pesticide degradates ranged from 0.5 to 10.6 ng/L in water and 0.7 to 11.8 ng/L in suspended sediment filters. Reporting limits were 1.1–21.1 ng/L and 1.5–23.7 ng/L in water and filter samples, respectively. The developed method is applied to surface-water samples for the analysis of pesticides, pesticide degradates, and other agrochemicals.

## Citation Information

## Related Content

                  -              Data           
                  -              Connect           

July 27, 2021

####                 A Multiresidue Method for the Analysis of Pesticides in Water using Solid-Phase Extraction with Gas and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ver. 2.0, April 2023)              

California Water Science Center

####             Michael S Gross (Former Employee)          

##### Research Chemist

California Water Science Center

#### Corey Sanders

##### Chemist

California Water Science Center

csanders@usgs.gov

916-278-3289

#### Matthew De Parsia

##### Hydrologist

California Water Science Center

mdeparsia@usgs.gov

916-278-3080

#### Michelle L Hladik, PhD

##### Research Chemist

California Water Science Center

mhladik@usgs.gov

916-278-3183

## Related Content

                  - Data  LabelJuly 27, 2021                A Multiresidue Method for the Analysis of Pesticides in Water using Solid-Phase Extraction with Gas and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ver. 2.0, April 2023)              Applications of pesticides in agricultural and urban settings play an essential role in increasing crop yields, preserving food and materials, reducing pest-borne diseases, and eradicating or deterring pests. Pesticides are transported from their point of application to environmental media, including surface water. To better understand the fate of fate and transport of pesticides in the environmenByCalifornia Water Science Center 
                  - Connect              Michael S Gross (Former Employee)          Research ChemistCalifornia Water Science CenterCorey SandersChemistCalifornia Water Science CenterEmailcsanders@usgs.govPhone916-278-3289Matthew De ParsiaHydrologistCalifornia Water Science CenterEmailmdeparsia@usgs.govPhone916-278-3080Michelle L Hladik, PhDResearch ChemistCalifornia Water Science CenterEmailmhladik@usgs.govPhone916-278-3183 

### Contact

####               Sacramento Projects Office (USGS California Water Science Center)          

6000 J Street, Placer HallSacramento, CA95819United States

916-278-3000

916-278-3070