Determination method for ractopamine in swine and cattle tissues using LC/MS

Simple and reliable methods using LC/MS have been developed for the determination of the beta-agonist ractopamine in swine and cattle tissues. Ractopamine was extracted with ethyl acetate from muscle and liver, and the ethyl acetate layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified by partition with acetonitrile/n-hexane. In the case of fat, ractopamine was extracted and purified by partition with acetonitrile/n-hexane. The resulting acetonitrile solutions were evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in methanol, and subjected to LC/MS. The LC separation was performed on a Wakosil-II 3C18HG column (150 x 3 mm i.d.) in isocratic mode with 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile (80:20) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The MS detection was performed in the selected ion recording (SIR) mode, with detection of the M + H+ ion of ractopamine (m/z 302) produced by electrospray ionization (ESI). The mean recoveries of the drug from swine muscle (0.01 microg fortified), fat (0.01 microg fortified) and liver (0.04 microg/g fortified) were 99.7%, 99.5% and 100.8%, and those from cattle samples were 108.3%, 97.0% and 109.4%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 0.1% to 9.5%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the drug was 1 ng/g.     

Determination of tetrodotoxin in puffer-fish tissues, and in serum and urine of intoxicated humans by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method was developed for the analysis of tetrodotoxin in puffer-fish tissues, and in serum and urine of humans poisoned after consuming puffer-fish, by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Tetrodotoxin was extracted with 2% acetic acid. The extracted solution from puffer-fish tissues was diluted with water, and the extracted solution from human serum and urine was cleaned up by LC/MS/MS with a methacrylate-styrenedivinylbenzene cartridge. The LC separation was performed on a C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm i.d.) using 10 mmol/L IPCC-MS7-methanol (65 : 35) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The mass spectral acquisition was done in the positive ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The recoveries of tetrodotoxin were 79-90% from puffer-fish tissues fortified at 0.1 microg/g and 1 microg/g, and 93-101% from human serum and urine fortified at 0.5 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL. The detection limits of tetrodotoxin were 0.01 microg/g in puffer-fish tissues and 0.1 ng/mL in human serum and urine. Thirty samples of puffer-fish from wholesale markets, and 7 serum and 5 urine samples of humans poisoned after consuming puffer-fish were analyzed by this method. Tetrodotoxin was detected in all puffer-fish tissues, and all serum and urine samples at the levels of 0.04-140 microg/g, 0.9-1.8 ng/mL and 15-150 ng/mL, respectively.     

Analytical method for carbamate pesticides in processed foods by LC/MS/MS

A rapid analytical method for the simultaneous determination of carbamate pesticides in processed foods was established by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The pesticides were extracted from samples with acetonitrile using accelerated solvent extract equipment, except for the fine powder type spices, which were extracted in an ultrasonic bath. The crude extract was cleaned up with a multi-solvent GPC column (Shodex Asahipak GF-310 HQ) using acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The eluent from the column at the retention time between 13 to 18 min was concentrated under nitrogen gas and dissolved in a mixture of acetonitrile-water-0.2 mol/L ammonium formate buffer pH 6.0 (10 : 9 : 1). An aliquot was injected into the LC/MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) with acquisition in the positive mode.The recoveries of 29 kinds of pesticide from dried fruits (raisin, prune and mango) and spices (turmeric, masala, sage, thyme and red pepper) fortified at levels of 0.1 and 0.01 microg/g were mostly in the range of 50 to 150% and those from soybean paste and soy sauce fortified at 0.01 microg/g were 46.9 to 122.6% (C.V. 3.8 to 37.6%), except for 4 kinds of pesticide. The determination limits (S/N> or =10) corresponded to 0.001 to 0.05 mug/g of the pesticides in red pepper.     

Determination of nitrofurazone in livestock products and seafoods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of nitrofurazone (NFZ) in swine muscle, swine liver, chicken muscle, chicken liver, egg, eel, yellowtail and shrimp has been developed. The drug was extracted with 0.2% metaphosphoric acid-methanol (6 : 4), and the extracts were cleaned up on an Oasis HLB cartridge (200 mg). The extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS using electrospray ionizationin the negative ion mode. The LC separation was performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column (15 cmx2.1 mm i.d.) with a gradient system of 0.01% formic acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The quantitative and confirmatory determination of NFZ was performed by selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The calibration graph for NFZ was rectilinear from 0.2 to 100 ng/mL with SRM. The recoveries of NFZ from samples fortified at 1 and 10 ng/g were 79.6-106.8%, and quantification limit was 0.2 ng/g for the drug. This is well below the detection limit (1 ng/g) set by the Japanese Food Sanitation Law.     

Determination of mepiquat chloride in grape, wine and juice by liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method was developed for the analysis of mepiquat chloride in grape, wine and juice by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Mepiquat chloride was extracted with water-methanol (1:1). Extracted solution was adjusted to pH 10 with ammonia solution. A part of the extracted solution was cleaned up on a styrenedivinylbenzene (SDVB) cartridge for LC/MS/MS. The LC separation was performed on a C18 column (50 mm x 2 mm i.d.) using 0.1% IPCC-MS7-methanol (60:40) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The mass spectral acquisition was done in the positive ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The recoveries of mepiquat chloride from fresh grape, wine and juice fortified at 5 microg/kg and 50 microg/kg were 84.5-96.1%. The lower limit of quantification was 1 microg/kg. Fourteen fresh grape samples, 14 wines (white), 36 wines (red) and 11 juice samples were analyzed by this method. Mepiquat chloride was detected in 5 fresh grape samples, 3 wines (white) and 1 wine (red) at the level of 12.8-199 microg/kg, 5.7-47.7 microg/kg and 24.1 microg/kg, respectively.     

Determination of sucralose in foods by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple method for the determination of sucralose in various foods using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed. Sucralose was extracted with water or methanol, and the extract was cleaned up on a C18 cartridge, and diluted with water for injection into the LC/MS/MS. The LC separation was performed with a reversed-phase gradient on an ODS column, and the mass spectral acquisition was done in the negative ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The recoveries of sucralose from various kinds of foods fortified at 100 micrograms/g and 5 micrograms/g were 88.1-96.7% and 92.7-98.5%, respectively. The lower limits of quantification were 0.5 microgram/g in beverage, low-malt beer, yogurt and chocolate and 2.5 micrograms/g in other foods. Forty-three commercial foods containing sucralose were analyzed by this method. Sucralose was detected in all samples at levels of 3.8-481 micrograms/g.     

Determination of carbadox metabolites, quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid and desoxycarbadox, in swine muscle and liver by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective method using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) for the determination of carbadox metabolites, quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (QCA) and desoxycarbadox (Desoxy-CDX), in swine muscle and liver has been developed. The LC separation was performed on a Cadenza CD-C18 column (10 cm x 2 mm i.d.) with a gradient system of 0.01% acetic acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Negative ionization produced the [M-H]- molecular ion of QCA. On the other hand, the positive mode produced the [M+H]+ ion of Desoxy-CDX. The calibration graphs for QCA and Desoxy-CDX were rectilinear from 0.01 to 0.5 ng with selected ion monitoring (SIM). The drugs were extracted with 0.3% metaphosphoric acid-methanol (7:3), and the extracts were cleaned up on an Oasis HLB cartridge (60 mg) and by liquid-liquid extraction. The recoveries of QCA and Desoxy-CDX from swine muscle and liver fortified at 2.5 and 5 ng/g were 70.2-86.3%, and the detection limits were 1 ng/g for both drugs.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛奶和奶粉中6种大环内酯类药物的残留量

建立了液相色谱串联质谱测定牛奶和奶粉中6种大环内酯类药物(螺旋霉素、吡利霉素、竹桃霉素、替米卡星、红霉素和泰乐菌素)残留量的分析方法。采用乙腈提取目标物,OasisHLB固相萃取柱净化提取液,液相色谱-串联质谱测定,外标法定量。牛奶中6种大环内酯类药物的检测低限(LOQ)为1μg/kg,奶粉的LOQ为8μg/kg。6种分析物在0～100μg/L的浓度范围内呈良好线性,线性相关系数>0.992。方法在三个水平的添加回收率在81.5%～96.1%之间,相对标准偏差在3.29%～9.96%之间。方法回收率高、重现性好,适用于牛奶、奶粉等样品中大环内酯类药物残留的定量及确证检测。     

Multiresidue method for determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables by GC/MS (SCAN) and LC/MS (SIM)

A rapid multiresidue method has been developed for determination of many pesticides in fruits and vegetables using GC/MS and LC/MS. The method of analysis was the same as that reported by Kakimoto et al. in 2003 except for the use of LC/MS. Good recoveries in the range of 70-120% were obtained for 70 (32 by GC/MS, 38 by LC/MS) of 113 pesticides spiked at 0.1 microg/g into fruits and vegetables. For screening purposes, the method could be appiled to 82 pesticides. Considering the report by Kakimoto et al. in 2004, 177 pesticides were suitable for screening by this method. The limits of detection were 0.001-0.015 microg/g (by GC/MS) and < 0.001-0.010 microg/g (by LC/MS). The calibration curves were linear for most pesticides, with correlation coefficients of 0.976-1.000 (by GC/MS) and 0.968-1.000 (by LC/MS). The values obtained for fruits and vegetables naturally contaminated with pesticides by this method were nearly equal to those by the official method.     

Simultaneous determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics in milk by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method was developed for determination of nine aminoglycoside antibiotics (streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, spectinomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, destomycin A, apramycin, and tobramycin) in milk by LC/MS/MS. The drugs were extracted with 0.01 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate containing 2% trichloroacetic acid, and the extracted solution was cleaned on cation-exchange cartridge columns (Oasis WCX and Oasis MCX). LC separation was performed on a TSK-gel VMpak25 column (50 mmx2.0 mm i.d.) using gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. Recoveries of the drugs spiked at 0.01 or 0.1 microg/g in milk ranged from 66.1 to 110.8%, with a coefficient of variation of less than 17.1%. Limits of quantification of the drugs in milk were 0.001 approximately 0.01 microg/g. This method was used for analysis of milk from a lactating cow treated for clinical mastitis with two intramammary infusions of kanamycin (KM). Milk samples were analyzed during the withdrawal times at 12-hour intervals. KM concentrations were lower than the Japanese provisional MRLs (0.4 microg/g) at 60 hours after infusion, and subsequently fell to 0.01 microg/g.     

Determination of pindone in animal products, fishery products, and honey by LC-MS/MS

A sensitive and selective analytical method for the determination of the rodenticide pindone in animal products, fishery products, and honey by LC-MS/MS was developed. Pindone was extracted with acidified acetone, and the crude extract was purified by liquid-liquid partitioning, followed by silica gel and ODS column chromatography. LC separation was performed on an ODS column with methanol/water containing ammonium acetate as the mobile phase, and detection was carried out using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) in the negative mode. The average recoveries from fortified bovine muscle, bovine liver, bovine fat, chicken muscle, salmon, eel, freshwater clam, egg, milk, and honey spiked at 0.001 mg/kg were in the range of 76-92%, and the relative standard deviations were 4-8%. The limit of quantitation (S/N≥10) of the developed method was 0.001 mg/kg for all the tested foods.     

Rapid determination of residues of 4 tetracyclines in meat by a microbiological screening, HPLC and LC/MS/MS

A rapid and precise determination residues of 4 tetracyclines (TCs) (oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC) and doxycycline (DOXY)) in meat was developed by employing three analyses; a microbiological screening, HPLC and LC/MS/MS. TCs were extracted with pH 4.0 McIlvaine buffer containing 0.01 mol/L EDTA from a meat sample, and then purified using a mixed mode, reversed-phase and cation-exchange cartridge. The mean recoveries (n=5) of 0.2 microg/g OTC, TC and CTC, 0.05 microg/g DOXY spiked in meat samples were 76.6-99.0% (C.V. 1.6-5.4%). In 13 meat samples in which the microbiological screening indicated the presence of TCs, CTC (9 samples) and DOXY (4 samples) were identified with HPLC and LC/MS/MS.     

Simultaneous determination of five penicillins in muscle,liver and kidney from slaughtered animals using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of five penicillins (ampicillin, penicillin G, penicillin V, oxacillin and cloxacillin) in muscle, liver and kidney tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed. Mass spectral acquisition was done in the negative ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The five penicillins were extracted with water, and the extracted solution was cleaned up on a C18 cartridge. Phenethicillin was added as an internal standard, and the extract was diluted with water for injection into the LC-ESI-MS/MS. The recoveries of the five penicillins were in the range of 77.3-99.8% from muscle, liver and kidney fortified at 10-250 ng/g. The detection limits for ampicillin were 6 ng/g in muscle and kidney and 15 ng/g in liver. For penicillin G and penicillin V, the detection limits were 2 ng/g in muscle and kidney and 5 ng/g in liver. For oxacillin and cloxacillin, the detection limits were 4 ng/g in muscle and kidney and 10 ng/g in liver. Twenty-three muscle, fourteen liver and twenty-two kidney samples from the markets were analyzed by this method. No penicillins were detected in any sample.     

Analytical method of hydramethylnon in agricultural products by LC-MS/MS

A simple determination method of hydramethylnon in agricultural products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. The sample was homogenized with phosphoric acid and extracted with acetone. An aliquot of crude extract was re-extracted with hexane and sat. NaCl solution. In the case of tea leaf, solidification processing using ammonium chloride and phosphoric acid was performed before re-extraction with hexane. Clean-up was performed using a silica-gel mini column (500 mg). The LC separation was performed on a C18 column using methanol-water (8 : 2) containing 10 mM ammonium acetate as the mobile phase and MS detection with positive ion electrospray ionization. The calibration curve was linear between 0.002-0.2 μg/mL of hydramethylnon. Recoveries (n=5) of hydromethylnon from 10 kinds of agricultural products fortified at 0.01 μg/g (0.05 μg/g for pineapple) were 82-110%, and their relative standard deviations were 2-12%.     

Simultaneous determination of quinolones in foods by LC/MS/MS

A simple method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven quinolones (enoxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, lomefloxacin, enrofloxacin and sarafloxacin) in foods using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The seven quinolones were extracted with acetonitrile containing 0.2% formic acid, and the extracted solution was cleaned up on a C18 cartridge. The extract was diluted with 5 mmol/L IPCC-MS3 for injection into the LC-ESI-MS/MS. The LC separation was carried out on an ODS column with gradient elution of 5 mmol/L IPCC-MS3-acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Mass spectral acquisition was done in the positive ion mode by applying selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The recoveries of the seven quinolones were mostly greater than 60% from foods fortified at 10 ng/g. The detection limits in foods were 2 ng/g for enoxacin and ciprofloxacin, and 1 ng/g for the other drugs. Twenty cattle muscle, 7 swine muscle, 9 chicken muscle, 16 milk, 19 prawn and 20 broiled eel samples from retail markets were analyzed by this method. Enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin were detected in 9 broiled eel at the level of trace (tr)-34 ng/g and tr-10 ng/g, respectively.     

Headspace GC/MS analysis of residual vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride in polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride products

A headspace GC/MS analysis method for the simultaneous determination of residual vinyl chloride (VC) and vinylidene chloride (VDC) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) products was developed. A test sample was swelled overnight with N,N-dimethylacetamide in a sealed vial. The vial was incubated for 1 hour at 90 degrees C, then the headspace gas was analyzed by GC/MS using a PLOT capillary column. The recoveries from spiked PVC and PVDC samples were 90.0-112.3% for VC and 85.2-108.3% for VDC. The determination limits were 0.01 microg/g for VC and 0.06/microg/g for VDC, respectively. By this method, VC was detected in two PVC water supply pipes at the levels of 0.61 and 0.01 microg/g. On the other hand, VC and VDC were not detected in any of the food container-packages or toys tested.     

Monitoring perfluorinated surfactants in biota and surface water samples following an accidental release of fire-fighting foam into Etobicoke Creek

Perfluorinated surfactants have emerged as priority environmental contaminants due to recent reports of their detection in environmental and biological matrices as well as concerns regarding their persistence and toxicity. In June 2000, 22000 L of fire retardant foam containing perfluorinated surfactants was accidentally released at L. B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto, ON, and subsequently entered into Etobicoke Creek, a tributary to Lake Ontario. A suite of analytical tools that include liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and 19F NMR were employed to characterize fish (common shiner, Notropus cornutus) and surface water samples collected following the discharge of the perfluorinated material. Total perfluoroalkanesulfonate (4, 6, and 8 carbons) concentrations in fish liver samples ranged from 2.00 to 72.9 microg/g, and total perfluorocarboxylate (5-14 carbons) concentrations ranged from 0.07 to 1.02 microg/g. In addition to fish samples, total perfluoroalkanesulfonate (6 and 8 carbons) concentrations were detected in creek water samples by LC/MS/MS over a 153 day sampling period with concentrations ranging from <0.017 to 2260 microg/L; perfluorooctanoate concentrations (<0.009-11.3 microg/L) were lower than those observed for the perfluoroalkane-sulfonates. By 19F NMR, the total perfluorinated surfactant concentrations in surface water samples ranged from < 10 to 17000 microg/L. A bioaccumulation factor range of 6300-125000 was calculated for perfluorooctanesulfonate, based on concentrations in fish liver and surface water. The residence time of perfluorooctanesulfonate in Etobicoke Creek as well as the high bioaccumulation in fish liver suggests that perfluorinated surfactants will persist and bioaccumulate following release into the aquatic environment.     

Simultaneous determination of pesticides in agricultural products by LC/MS/MS using clean-up with ultrafiltration

A method for simultaneous determination of multiple pesticide residues in agricultural products was developed by using a pretreatment with ultrafiltration, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The pretreatment process (extraction of pesticides from agricultural products with methanol, dilution of the extract with water, and ultrafiltration) gave recoveries in the range of 50-150% for 63 of 83 pesticides spiked at 0.25 microg/ g into 6 agricultural products. The detection limits of pesticides by LC/MS/MS were below 0.0005-0.05 micro/g. This method is useful for screening purposes and for multiresidue analysis of pesticides in agricultural products. Pesticide residues in 50 domestic crops were investigated by this method, and residues of 14 pesticides were detected in 30 crops.     

Determination of nequinate and buquinolate in livestock products using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We studied the simultaneous determination of nequinate and buquinolate, which are used as feed additives to prevent coccidiosis, by means of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile, then loaded onto an HLB mini-column with 20% methanol. After clean-up with 20% methanol, the analytes were eluted with acetonitrile-methanol (1 : 1). The coccidiostats in the purified samples were determined using ESI-MRM mode LC-MS/MS with a sample matrix calibration curve. Mean recoveries of nequinate and buquinolate from 8 kinds of livestocks samples (chicken muscle, chicken liver, chicken heart, swine muscle, swine heart, cattle muscle, sheep muscle, egg) were in the range of 89.5% to 108.6%, and the relative standard deviation values were <20% (n=10) at the levels of 0.01 μg/g and 0.05 μg/g, respectively. The limits of quantification of these compounds were 0.001 μg/g in each sample.     

Multi-residue method for determination of veterinary drugs and feed additives in meats by HPLC

A simple and rapid multi-residue method was developed for the determination of 28 kinds of veterinary drugs and feed additives (drugs) in muscle of cattle, pig and chicken. The drugs were extracted with acetonitrile-water (95:5) in a homogenizer and ultrasonic generator. The extracted solution was poured into an alumina column and the drugs were eluted with acetonitrile-water (90:10). The eluate was washed with n-hexane saturated with acetonitrile and then evaporated. The drugs were separated on a Inertsil ODS-3V column (4.6 mm i.d. x 250 mm) with a gradient system of 0.1% phosphoric acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase, with monitoring at 280 and 340 nm. The recoveries of the 26 kinds of drugs were over 60% from the meats fortified at 0.1 microg/g, and the quantification limits of most drugs were 0.01 microg/g. This proposed method was found to be effective and suitable for the screening of the above drugs in meats.