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Determination of glyphosate in cadaveric insect samples using UHPLC-MS/MS method
1Laboratorio de Entomología Forense, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, San Juan 670, Bahía Blanca, 8000, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Necrophagous insects, including Calliphora vicina and Dermestes maculatus, can accumulate glyphosate. Herbicide-positive larval stages of these insects may serve as valuable tools for forensic toxicological analysis in intoxication cases.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Entomology
- Environmental Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Glyphosate herbicide intoxication cases are reported globally.
- Necrophagous insects are of significant medical and forensic importance.
- Investigating insect bioaccumulation of toxins aids forensic investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence and levels of glyphosate in necrophagous insects.
- To assess the potential of insect larvae as bioindicators for glyphosate exposure.
- To establish a method for glyphosate detection in forensic entomology.
Main Methods:
- Insects (Calliphora vicina, Dermestes maculatus) were fed glyphosate-based herbicide (Roundup Full® II).
- Larval instars and pupae were collected at specific developmental stages.
- Glyphosate quantification was performed using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).
Main Results:
- Glyphosate was detected in Dermestes maculatus larvae (L1-L4: 0.15 ppb; L1: 0.21 ppb; L3: 0.20 ppb).
- Glyphosate was detected in Calliphora vicina larvae (L3: 0.25 ppb).
- Detection varied based on insect species and larval developmental stage.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest herbicide-positive larval insects can be utilized in toxicological analyses.
- This research supports the use of necrophagous insects in forensic investigations of glyphosate exposure.
- Further studies are warranted to validate these findings across diverse scenarios.
