Multi-residue environmental method for seed treatment insecticides, neonicotinoid degradation products, and fungicides using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with a new ionization source.

Few methods provide simultaneous determination of multiple pesticides and degradation products in environmental samples using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). As LC-MS/MS method performance is significantly influenced by the type and design of the ion source, we compared three ion sources: electrospray ionization (ESI) source, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source and UniSpray™ ionization source. A gain in sensitivity was observed with UniSpray™ and ESI as compared to APCI source on the same instrument.

Aquatic occurrence, fate and potential ecotoxicity of insecticide and fungicide residues originating from a biofuels production facility using pesticide-treated seeds.

Little is known about the potential impact of point source contamination from seed treatment pesticide residues and degradation products in waste products in treated seed. The presence of these pesticides and their degradation products in the environment has been associated with toxic effects on non-target organisms including bees, aquatic organisms and humans. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of twenty-two pesticide residues and their degradation products in two streams receiving runoff from land-applied wet cake, applied and spilled wastewater originating at a biofuels production facility using pesticide-treated seed as a feedstock.