Herbicide Residues in Biota, Analysis of

Abstract

Herbicides are used in agriculture to increase productivity by controlling and inhibiting production of unwanted plants interfering with proper growth and nourishment of valuable crops. Anthropogenic activities have promoted widespread occurrence of herbicide residues in various biota resulting in concerns for animal (including human) and environmental health. This article examines current extraction, cleanup, and instrumental methods available for analyzing herbicide residues in biota, integrating multiresidue methods (MRMs) and miniaturization of apparatus to reduce solvent volumes required for sample extraction and analysis. Methods using miniaturized procedures are additionally beneficial because they tend to be generally less expensive, faster, and less labor intensive than conventional methods and, furthermore, they reduce analyst exposure to hazardous materials. Mass spectrometry (MS), interfaced with high‐resolution gas chromatography (GC) and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), has become the detection and quantification method of choice for herbicide analysis with many recent improvements due to advances in ionization techniques and analyzer power. These advancements have resulted in higher levels of accuracy, sensitivity, and selectivity, as well as higher sample throughput. Immunoassay (IA) techniques have also emerged as important tools in the detection of herbicides in biota.