A Quick, Simple, Sensitive and Selective LC-MS/MS Method Used for the Screening of Ethephon, Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid from Water and Food Samples

Pesticide use has increased steadily over the years in both industrial farming and local agriculture. One of the most widely used pesticides at a global level, glyphosate, has been controversial for many years and many studies have focused on the effects of this compound on human health. Ethephon is also a controversial ripening agent used to ripen crops more quickly. A basic but crucial step in the study of the effects of their use on human health is the development of adequate analytical methodologies for the quantification of the compounds in relevant samples. For this study a quick, simple and selective method which uses LC-MS/MS was developed for the determination of ethephon, glyphosate and AMPA. The method uses selective fragment monitoring for each analyte and the internal standard, without prior analytical separation. Mobile phase used consisted of aqueous ammonium formate and methanol in isocratic elution and the sample cleanup was made using solid phase extraction (SPE). The method was validated with regards to selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision in accordance with applicable guidelines. After validation the LC-MS/MS method was successfully used to determine ethephon, glyphosate and AMPA residues in ground and surface water, as well as vegetable samples.