Quantification of Nonpersistent Pesticides in Small Volumes of Human Breast Milk with Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Existing methods for the analysis of pesticides in human breast milk involve multiple extraction steps requiring large sample and solvent volumes, which can be a major obstacle in large epidemiologic studies. Here, we developed a simple, low-volume method for extracting organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, atrazine, and imidacloprid from 100 to 200 μL of human breast milk. Multiple extraction protocols were tested including microwave-assisted acid/base digestion and double-solvent extraction with 2 or 20 mL of 2:1 (v/v) dichloromethane/hexane, with or without subsequent solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Analyte recoveries and reproducibility were highest when 100–200 μL of milk were extracted with 2 mL of dichloromethane/hexane without subsequent SPE steps. Analysis of 79 breast milk samples using this method revealed the presence of carbamates, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and imidacloprid at detection frequencies of 79–96, 53–90, 1–7, and 61%, respectively. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a simple low-volume extraction method for measuring pesticides in human breast milk.

The Prevalence of Anemia among Pregnant Women in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…According to the WHO classification [ 10 ], the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in China (30.7%) found during this research would be classified as a “moderate” public health problem (20.0–39.9%). This was higher than the 13.6% stated in the “Report on nutrition and chronic diseases of Chinese residents (2020)” published by the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNHS) [ 72 ].…”

Transportation and Transformation of Legacy Pesticides, Currently Used Pesticides, and Degradation Products: From Corn Planting to Corn Flour Processing

“…Previous studies also showed that a major removal pathway might be 3-PBA biodegradation by soil microorganisms . In addition, the banning of persistent-halogenated pesticides in the 1970s and 1980s massively increased the use of pyrethroids in agricultural farms and in and around homes. , Long-term exposure to non-persistent pesticides is associated with multiple health problems, including neurological defects, cancer, and infertility. − Therefore, the occurrence of pyrethroids in the soil environment is a major concern.…”

“…Hence, the short 3-PBA half-life may be caused by volatilization under high temperatures and degradation losses. Additionally, the pK a value of 3-PBA (3.95) indicates that 3-PBA easily reacts in an alkaline environment. Other studies have shown that 3-PBA degradation increases with the increase in soil pH. , The application of diammonium phosphate and urea fertilizer to C2 field on June 12th potentially caused an alkaline soil environment, a probable reason for the short 3-PBA half-life in this study.…”

“…Hence, the short 3-PBA half-life may be caused by volatilization under high temperatures and degradation losses. Additionally, the pK a value of 3-PBA (3.95) 30 indicates that 3-PBA easily reacts in an alkaline environment. Other studies have shown that 3-PBA degradation increases with the increase in soil pH.…”

Microwave-Assisted Extraction/UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS-Based Lipidomic Workflow for Comprehensive Study of Lipids in Soft Cheese

“…Studies on MAE applied to milk and cheeses were carried out for the extraction and determination of aflatoxins and pesticides [28,29], biogenic amines [30], bioactive peptides [31], and organic acids [32]. Moreover, Dvoršćak et al described for the first time the use of MAE for organic pollutants from human milk samples, highlighting the influence of sample preparation and pretreatment [33].…”