Abstract
This study presents the development, validation and application of a multiresidue analytical method intended to determine nine pesticides and a degradation product (α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, α-HCH, g-HCH, aldrin, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and trifluralin) in breast milk samples by solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC/ECD). The proposed method is considered simple and efficient, combining extraction and clean up in a single step and quantification performed by standard addition to avoid the matrix effect. The method limits of detection and quantification varied between 0.002 and 0.079 µg mL-1 and 0.013 and 0.108 µg mL-1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to analyze 62 breast milk samples collected between February and June 2010 in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, Brazil. p,p'-DDE (0.32-12.03 µg g-1 of fat), p,p'-DDT (2.62-12.41 µg g-1 of fat) and β-endosulfan (0.54-0.61 µg g-1 of fat) were quantified in 29%, 5% and 3% of the samples, respectively. Aldrin was found below the method quantification limit in 7% of samples. Although these compounds were found in the analyzed samples, mothers were oriented to carry on feeding the infants as the breast milk is considered the optimum food during infancy.
Highlights
Brazil is one of the world’s largest pesticide consumers, and the state of Mato Grosso stands out in the national scenario as one of the major agricultural producers and pesticide consumers
The pasteurization step procedure could possibly degrade some pesticide in the control sample or even cause the formation of new compounds, it did not interfere in the extraction efficiency
The matrix effect was determined by the relationship between the values of the angular coefficients of the analytical curves from standard solutions prepared in organic solvent and in the breast milk matrix
Summary
Brazil is one of the world’s largest pesticide consumers, and the state of Mato Grosso stands out in the national scenario as one of the major agricultural producers and pesticide consumers. In 2010, 410,000 hectares of soybean, corn and cotton were cultivated in the municipality, and around 5.1 million liters of pesticides, especially herbicides, insecticides and fungicides were sprayed over those fields.[1,2]. During and after their application, pesticides can spread through different environmental compartments and reach places far from the application areas.[3] As a result, people.
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