Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Nov 2023)

High-throughput screening and quantitative analysis of hidden ingredients in plant protection products by GC-MS/MS

  • Xiaohui Li,
  • Chunmei Li,
  • Simeng Li,
  • Xueying Chen,
  • Ning Yue,
  • Qi Wang,
  • Chen Zhang,
  • Hua Shao,
  • Lufei Zheng,
  • Fen Jin

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 266
p. 115556

Abstract

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Hidden ingredients in plant protection products (PPPs) threaten public health, food trade, and the environment. In this study, we developed a high-throughput screening method of 639 hidden ingredients in PPPs using GC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Results showed that the qualitative criteria of retention time (tR) shift and uncertainty of qualifier to quantifier ratio in the commercially available Shimadzu Smart Pesticides Database were set at < 0.17 min and < 30%, respectively, which could be used to tentatively identify compounds without standards. The limits of quantification were 0.01–0.05 mg/kg. A wide linear range of 10–1000 μg/L was observed with R2 ≥ 0.975. Recoveries from three types of PPP formulations were 62.08%− 126.3%, with relative standard deviations < 15.7%. Finally, this method was applied to screen and quantify hidden ingredients in 91 plant protection products (PPPs) samples collected from online sales in China. Only one hidden ingredient, dimethomorph (1.6 g/kg), was detected in the polyoxin formulation (15% wettable powder). The results will be helpful in assessing the potential risks of hidden ingredients in PPPs.

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