MASS-SPECTROMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE-RESIDUES

A review is made of current approaches to mass spectrometry (MS) of pesticides, pesticide metabolites and related compounds such as PCB's and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins. Basic relationships between instrument sensitivity and detection limits in various operating modes are outlined. Recent developments in instrumentation are introduced such as ‘bench top’ GC-MS, LC-MS, MS-MS and surface ionisation techniques. Objective criteria are developed for interpretation of MS data for identification and quantitation of residues. The advantages of isotopically labelled internal standards to ultra trace analysis are highlighted. The recent literature on applications of MS to various pesticide classes are summarised. The conclusions are that requirements for detailed residue data on crop protection and environmentally significant chemicals will increasingly rely on MS techniques as detection limits are lowered and the number of chemicals grows. MS applications are increasingly becoming polarised between routine confirmation of identity and sophisticated structural elucidation or. ultra trace analysis. © 1990 De Gruyter