Rapid Sample Preparation and Fast GC–MS-MS for the Analysis of Pesticides and Environmental Contaminants in Fish
Spectroscopy E-Books
A rapid, high-throughput analytical method was developed and evaluated for the simultaneous determination of pesticides and environmental contaminants in fish. The compounds included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and flame retardants. The method was based on a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) technique with acetonitrile extraction, and a dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) cleanup. Three sorbent combinations were compared for cleanup efficiency and recoveries of the contaminants: C18+PSA, traditionally used for lipid removal in dSPE, and two novel sorbents, based on silica coated with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2 ) and ZrO2 /C18, designed for phospholipid removal. The dSPE cleanup with ZrO2 sorbent provided the highest efficiency with the lowest baseline, as well as satisfactory recoveries (70–120% calculated based on isotope-labeled internal standards) for the most analytes. The method allows for quick sample preparation of fish samples for the analysis of almost 200 targeted contaminants using fast, lowpressure gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS-MS), thus providing a wide scope of analysis.
Read more here.
Newsletter
Get essential updates on the latest spectroscopy technologies, regulatory standards, and best practices—subscribe today to Spectroscopy.
AI-Powered Raman with CARS Offers Laser Imaging for Rapid Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
July 15th 2025Chinese researchers have developed a cutting-edge cervical cancer diagnostic model that combines spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, CARS imaging, and artificial intelligence to achieve 100% accuracy in distinguishing healthy and cancerous tissue.
How Analytical Chemists Are Navigating DOGE-Driven Funding Cuts
July 14th 2025DOGE-related federal funding cuts have sharply reduced salaries, lab budgets, and graduate support in academia. Researchers view the politically driven shifts in priorities as part of recurring systemic issues in U.S. science funding during administrative transitions. The impact on Federal laboratories has varied, with some seeing immediate effects and others experiencing more gradual effects. In general, there is rising uncertainty over future appropriations. Sustainable recovery may require structural reforms, leaner administration, and stronger industry-academia collaboration. New commentary underscores similar challenges, noting scaled-back graduate admissions, spending freezes, and a pervasive sense of overwhelming stress among faculty, students, and staff. This article addresses these issues for the analytical chemistry community.
