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Published on: October 2, 2016
Rapid Determination of 15 Herbicides in Blood and Soil by Direct Analysis in Real Time-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Zhou Yuan1, Zhang Ying2, Hou Xiaolong3
1Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China.
Rationale:
The rampant abuse of herbicides in agricultural practices has resulted in frequent incidents of both unintended and deliberate poisoning, posing dual threats to ecosystems and human health. This underscores an urgent need for efficient herbicide detection methods.
Methods:
A direct analysis in real time coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (DART-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous detection of 15 herbicides in blood and soil. Systematic optimization of mass spectrometric parameters established optimal detection conditions in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, with the ion source temperature set at 450°C. Following liquid-liquid extraction of blood or soil samples, the processed supernatant was analyzed directly.
Results:
The method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.99) across a wide concentration range. Sensitivity was validated with limits of detection (LODs) of 1-20 ng/mL in blood and 1-10 ng/g in soil, and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 1-50 ng/mL in blood and 1-20 ng/g in soil. Satisfactory recovery rates and controlled matrix effects met toxicological requirements. In 2024, the method was successfully applied to four real cases of herbicide poisoning.
Conclusions:
This study established the first DART-MS/MS method for simultaneous analysis of 15 herbicides in biological (blood) and environmental (soil) matrices. The complete analytical workflow required only 20 minutes from sample preparation to detection, significantly advancing forensic applications of DART-MS/MSwhile providing a reliable technical solution for herbicide screening in forensic investigations.
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