Determination of Concentration Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water from the Mandacaru Stream in Maringá-Paraná-Brazil Employing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

In this work, a method to determine the concentration levels of organochlorine pesticides in water samples from the Mandacaru stream in the region of Maringá- Paraná was validated, using the technique of solid phase extraction associated with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In the optimization of the method, parameters such as injector temperature and splitless time were evaluated. The analytical curves showed linear correlation values greater than 0.99 (R² > 0.99) for all compounds. The detection limits of 0.243 µg L⁻¹ to 1.200 µg L⁻¹ and quantification of 5.0 µg L⁻¹ were obtained for pesticides and the recovery values were between 88.25 and 127.3%. Values of relative standard deviation were less than 6.79%. In the water samples analyzed were found four organochlorine pesticides, two with concentrations within the limits set by national legislation and two with concentrations above these limits.

Keywords:

• GC-MS
• Solid phase extraction
• Validation

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Brazilian Agency CAPES.

Notes

n = 7.

n = 3.

n = 3.

nq = unquantified; nd = not detected; Concentration factor = 50.