Determination of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and their Metabolites, and Strobilurin Fungicides in Atmospheric Particles using Liquid Chromatography-Positive Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of metabolites of neonicotinoid insecticides with neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides in the particle phase fraction of atmospheric samples. Pressurized solvent extraction was used to extract the target analytes from particles collected on glass fiber filters, followed by a C18 SPE cleanup step. Recoveries of 85.9 to 108.3% and relative standard deviation <13% were obtained for all analytes. The method detection limit for metabolites of neonicotinoid insecticides were 0.5-3 ng/ mL (air concentrations of 0.44-2.66 pg/m³). Matrix effects were compensated for using standard addition calibration for quantitation. This paper provides the first detection of desmethyl-thiamethoxam which coincided with higher concentrations of thiamethoxam in atmospheric particles. Other neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides detected in the particle phase in the atmosphere included acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin. This research highlights the potential of not only neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides moving in the atmosphere in the particle phase, but also a metabolite of thiamethoxam (desmethyl-thiamethoxam) in a region with orchards and vineyards where foliar applications with air blast sprayers dominate.