title: Direct Analysis and Quantification of Metaldehyde in Water using Reactive Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry.
abstract: Metaldehyde is extensively used worldwide as a contact and systemic molluscicide for controlling slugs and snails in a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. Contamination of surface waters due to run-off, coupled with its moderate solubility in water, has led to increased concentration of the pesticide in the environment. In this study, for the first time, rapid analysis (<~1 minute) of metaldehyde residues in water is demonstrated using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS). The observed precursor molecular ions of metaldehyde were confirmed from tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments by studying the fragmentation patterns produced via collision-induced dissociation. The signal intensity ratios of the most abundant MS/MS transitions for metaldehyde (177 → 149 for protonated ion) and atrazine (221 → 179) were found to be linear in the range 0.01 to 5 ng/mL. Metaldehyde residues were detectable in environmental water samples at low concentration (LOD < 0.1 ng/mL using reactive PS-MS), with a relative standard deviation <10% and an R2value >0.99, without any pre-concentration/separation steps. This result is of particular importance for environmental monitoring and water quality analysis providing a potential means of rapid screening to ensure safe drinking water.
authors: Department of Electrical Engineering &Electronics, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, UK.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Maher
authors: Department of Electrical Engineering &Electronics, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, UK.
authors: Fred P M
authors: FP
authors: Jjunju
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors: Deidre E
authors: DE
authors: Damon
authors: Northumbrian Water, Leat House, Pattinson Road, Washington, NE38 8LB, UK.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Gorton
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors: Yosef S
authors: YS
authors: Maher
authors: M4I, Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Safaraz U
authors: SU
authors: Syed
authors: M4I, Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute, Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Ron M A
authors: RM
authors: Heeren
authors: Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
authors: Iain S
authors: IS
authors: Young
authors: Department of Electrical Engineering &Electronics, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, UK.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Taylor
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors: Abraham K
authors: AK
authors: Badu-Tawiah