Analysis of Pesticides in Tap Water with GC/MS

Introduction

In 1993, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare designated of guide line values and testing methods for the quality of tap water. Subsequently in June 1999, the notification “Establishment of standards for the quality of tap water” was partially revised to increase the number of monitored items from 26 to 32 (nitrite nitrogen, uranium, bentazone, carbofuran, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and triclopyr were added). Guide line values were revised for six items (boron, dichloroacetic acid, chlorothalonil (TPN), propyzamide, dichlorvos (DDVP) and fenobucarb (BPMC)). Table 1 lists the components, guide line values and measurement methods. Among the newly added pesticides bentazone, carbofuran, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and triclopyr, carbofuran is analyzed by HPLC. This article introduces measurement of bentazone, 2,4-D, triclopyr and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T), which is an analogous compound for 2,4-D. All these compounds require methylation to analyze using GC/MS and cannot be analyzed simultaneously with other pesticides. Table 2 shows the pretreatment processes.

March 24, 2003 GMT