Dados do Trabalho

Título

REVEALING THE UNKNOWN COMPOUNDS AND THE HIGHLY POLAR PESTICIDES FROM BRAZILIAN INFANT FORMULAS BY HILIC-LC-MS/MS AND LC-HRMS

Introdução

Pesticides play a crucial role in modern agriculture and aquaculture, controlling pests and maximizing crop yields. Highly polar pesticides (HPP) represent a significant pesticide subgroup characterized by their distinct physicochemical properties and potential health risks. Glyphosate and its metabolites are prime examples of HPP, known for their low Log Kow values (<1) and suspected carcinogenic and mutagenic properties in humans. While HPPs are essential for pest control, their analysis presents unique challenges due to their polar nature.

Material e Métodos

To address this, researchers have developed analytical methods capable of simultaneously detecting multiple HPP compounds. This study focuses on the detection of nine HPP compounds (chlorate, diquat, ethephon, fosetyl-al, glufosinate, nicotine acid, paraquat, perchlorate, and phosphonic acid) in thirty different Brazilian infant formula samples. Additionally, a complementary analysis for the tentatively identification of nontarget compounds was performed. For this, low-temperature ultrasonic extraction followed by dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) for cleanup were employed. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column, coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–QqQ-MS/MS) for detection and quantification.

Resultados e Discussão

The method was validated according to SANTE 11312/2021 guidelines and demonstrated excellent linearity, precision, recoveries, and established detection and quantification limits. The validated method was applied to the infant formula evaluation, revealing the presence of glufosinate, chlorate, perchlorate, fosetyl-Al, and phosphonic acid in 33% of them. Glufosinate was the most prevalent compound, although chlorate exhibited the highest concentration. Unknown analysis using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) identified 39 compounds not included in the targeted analysis, spanning various classes such as bioactive compounds, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and hormones.

Conclusão

This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of nine HPP in Brazilian infant formulas, highlighting the importance of monitoring these compounds for food safety. Given the vulnerability of infants to the potential harmful effects of pesticides, such monitoring efforts are crucial for safeguarding their health and well-being.