On the issue of analytical control of quinone derivatives in habitats

Introduction. In the direction of normative and methodological assurance of the safety of environmental objects and imported food products, analytical approaches to the determination of a fungicide of the quinone class - dithianone in the ambient air and citrus fruits were optimized.

Materials and methods. Measurements were performed by tandem liquid mass spectrometry with a triple quadrupole mass detector (HPLC-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using electrostatic spray as the ionization source. The substance from the air was concentrated on Tenax TA sorption tubes based on a porous polymer sorbent, followed by extraction of dithianone from the tubes with acetone. The preparation of samples of citrus fruits was carried out by extraction of acidified acetonitrile (selected optimal pH 2) in the presence of salts of magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride and sodium citrate two- and three-substituted, followed by centrifugation and filtration of the extract through disposable syringe membrane filters (QuEChERS technology).

Results. The developed techniques were tested on real samples using the pesticide in agricultural practice. The revealed levels of dithianon do not exceed the lower limit of quantitative determination: 0.000071 mg/m³ in ambient air (with a tentative safe exposure levels value of 0.0001 mg/m³) and 0.01 mg/kg in citrus fruits (with an established MRL value of 3 mg/kg).

Conclusion. The developed methods are approved as official documents and supplement the base of analytical methods in terms of control of atmospheric air and imported food products.