Optimization of the ionization conditions for the trace analysis of PCDD/PCDF with ion trap MS/MS

Commercial ion trap mass spectrometer provides easy-to-operate MS/MS analysis for the determination of PCDD/PCDF. The limit of quantification is appropriately low (0.2 pg for 23478-P5CDF) because all the stages are performed in the trap and sample losses associated with the ion transportation are minimized. However, if excessive ions are injected into the trap, its electrical fields are distorted and an overall reduction in performance arises. Ionization condition is an important parameter as it affects the amount of the total ions produced. If the amount of interfering compounds are negligible, such as standard solution or cleaned-up sample, lower ionization condition (e.g. electron energy: 30 eV, emission current (EC): 150 μA) is preferable. On the contrary, in case excessive interfering ions are coexisting with PCDD/PCDF, such as crude extract or semi-cleaned-up sample, the ionization condition should be high (e.g. electron energy: 90 eV, EC: 350 μA) for the reproductive quantification.     

Seasonal change of persistent organic pollutant concentrations in air at Niigata area,Japan

The concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as HCB, alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-HCH, trans- and cis-chlordane (t-CHL, c-CHL), DDE, DDD and DDT, in ambient air have been measured at five sampling points in Niigata area, Japan (Niigata, Maki, Tsubame, Jouzo and Yahiko) during the period from September 1999 to November 2001. HCB, alpha-HCH, t-CHL and c-CHL showed higher concentrations than the other chemicals in all locations. All the POPs except t-CHL and c-CHL collected at urban sites of the Niigata Plain was almost the same in their concentration levels. Higher concentrations of t-CHL and c-CHL in residential areas should be attributed to the past usage of the chemical as a termiticide. At Yahiko (remote site), most of the POPs showed lower concentrations than those measured at the other sampling sites, although alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH were comparable with the concentrations found at the other sampling sites. All POPs except alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH tend to decrease 41-80% in their concentrations from 2000 to 2001. The lower POPs concentrations in winter and the higher POPs concentrations in summer at every sampling point can be partly explained by temperature differences. Applying the equation of the logarithm of the POP partial pressure in air versus reciprocal temperature (lnPa=m/T+b) to our data, linear relations were observed. HCB gave a poor linearity and the smallest slope, while beta-HCH, t-CHL and c-CHL gave good linearities and large slopes in the equation. The results suggest that HCB level is influenced by not only the emission from terrestrial sources but the global-scale background pollution. A peculiar observation is that beta-HCH concentration measured in our study showed large temperature dependence, indicating there could be a source of contamination in the surrounding areas.     

Effect of decontamination and processing on insecticide residues in grape (Muscat Hamburg)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of simple decontamination methods and processing on imidacloprid, dimethoate, and...