The study was conducted to monitor pesticide residues in groundwater of two agriculturally intensive regions of Alberta, to determine the occurrence of pesticide residues in soil and groundwater of an experimental plot in southern Alberta, and to investigate the influence of land management factors and soil depth on pesticide residues in soil. A total of 440 groundwater samples were collected in three years (2013-2015) and analyzed for the presence of 142 pesticides using Liquid-liquid Extraction (LLE) in combination with Gas Chromatography- Mass Selective Detector (GC-MSD) and Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Ten herbicides, seven insecticides, and six fungicides were detected. Herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA, and clopyralid were the most frequently detected, and the only pesticides consistently detected every year in both regions. Pesticides were detected more frequently in summer and fall compared to spring. 4.5% of the samples were contaminated with more than one pesticides. No pesticides exceeded the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Similarly, a total of 213 groundwater samples (December 2014-November 2015) and 61 soil samples (in December 2014) in duplicates were analysed from the experimental plots in Lethbridge. Soil samples were collected at various depths (0-75 cm) and analyzed for the presence of 130 pesticides. A linear mixed effect model was fitted to determine the effect of soil depth, cropping systems and manure amendments on pesticide concentration in soil. In groundwater, bentazone, 2,4-D, and MCPA occurred most frequently and pesticide detection frequency varied seasonally with greater detections in July and September compared to other months. 37 different pesticide compounds were detected, and DDT isomers, 2,4-D, difenoconazole, MCPA and trans-heptachlor epoxide accounted for 85% of all detections. p,p’-DDE, 2,4-D, p,p-DDT, difenoconazole and MCPA occurred throughout the soil column and all of these except p,p-DDT were detected in underlying groundwater. Bentazone was found in groundwater throughout the year but not in soil. A greater number and higher concentrations of pesticides were found in soil. However, not all of them leached to groundwater. Soil depth and cropping system were significantly associated with total pesticide and total DDT concentration in the soil. Manure amendments had no affect pesticide concentrations. / May 2017

ABSTRACT To compare the degree of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments from Ikarama and Okwori in the Niger delta, Nigeria, concentrations of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments were measured. Analysis was conducted with gas chromatography using mass spectrometry detector. While the decrease in concentrations of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons confirmed the process of biodegradation in the sediments it was not solely fit to substantiate the degree of biodegradation in the sediments. Hence the percentage proportion of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was used. The degree of biodegradation of n-alkanes in both Okwori and Ikarama was almost similar. However, it was observed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were biodegraded in Okwori sediments than Ikarama sediments and this indicates the degree of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons impacted sediments in Okwori is greater than that of Ikarama.

Pyrolysis-capillary gas chromatography combined with FID, ECD and MS detection were used to characterize refuse-derived fuel and aquatic fulvic acids. Different pyrolysis methods and programs were evaluated. Pyrolysis temperatures of 700-800°C produced the strongest signal for organics present in RDF and fulvic acid. Cellulose and fatty acids pyrolyzates were identifiable by GC-MS following preparative pyrolysis fractionation. At organic chloride content of 0.023%, only three halogenated compounds were detected in the GC-MS of the fractions. None of the priority pollutants were detected at lower detection limit of 0.72 to 24 mg/ kg RDF. Selective solvent extraction improves the reproduciblities of the technique and allows the detection of polymeric structures. Pyrograms of polyvinyl chloride and regular typing paper showed some common peaks that are present in the RDF pyrogram. About 65% of the peaks in the RDF pyrogram might be of paper origin. The organic chloride content of the RDF was evaluated by ion chromatography of the trapped pyrolyzates in 2% NaOH trap and it was found to be 221 mg Cl/ kg dry RDF. Pyrolysis conditions and temperature programs for FA were systematically evaluated. Samples included purified FA, methylated FA and HPLC separated fractions. Characteristic pyrograms were developed. Profiles of benzene, toluene, phenol, m-cresol and biphenyl from FA were evaluated. The production of phenol was the largest at 800°C, at concentration of 1.61 mg per gram of FA pyrolyzed. The profiles of benzene and toluene followed the same pathways. Both pyrolyzates had at least two precursors. HPLC fractions of FA showed some regular retention patterns characteristic of polymeric material. DL-proline, seriene and vanillic acid pyrograms showed some peaks with the same retention times as those in FA pyrogram under the same conditions. A reproducibility of 6% relative standard deviation was achieved in the pyrolysis of RDF and 0.91% in the case of FA.

A method employing solid-liquid extraction with methanol and solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up step using Supelco SupelcleanTM ENVITM -Carb 3 mL cartridges (0.25 g graphitized carbon adsorbent) followed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization (GC-NCI-MS) has been optimized and applied for determination of ultratrace concentrations of C6 - C12 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in soil samples. A sophisticated multifactorial statistic method, response surface methodology, employing 1/16 fractional factorial design and the face centered central composite design as well has been applied to find the significant parameters which influence the extraction procedure of PFCAs and SPE clean-up step and to set the optimum extraction and clean-up levels of eight parameters evaluated yielding the maximum extraction recovery of all PFCAs. The analyte extraction recoveries and the limits of detection and quantification have been obtained. The recoveries of individual PFCAs were within a range from 85 to 100 % for analyte spiked concentration level of 1.1 ng g−1 and within a range from 91 to 107 % for analyte spiked level of 2.1 ng g−1 . The values of limits of detection were 1.9 - 3.0 pg g−1 and limits of quantification 6.4 - 10.1 pg g−1 . This analytical method has...

The simplification of the historical pieces of work samples' treatment is described in the dissertation. The recent methods have been inappropriate therefore, modification of the treatment was necessary. The dammar and copal resin, important restoration materials, were used in the experiment. HPLC-MS, HPLC-ELSD, GC-FID, GC-MS and pyrolysis GC- MS were applied. The concentration of fatty acids in the historical sculpture was determined by GC-MS, and it was compared to the content of fatty acids inside an egg. For identification of monosaccharide in the gum, GC-MS (hexamethyldisilazan, trimethylchlorsilan, and pyridine) is the suitable method. GC-MS determines the same composition of dammar resin as stated in the cited sources. The simple process for the samples' treatment was designed.

Endocrine disruptors represent a group of chemical compounds that are able to negatively influence the hormonal system of vertebrates. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) defines these compounds as exogenous substance or mixture that interferes with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, activity, or degradation of natural hormones. This can be observed at the level of the individual organism, its progeny, populations and subpopulations. All these changes have negative effects on homeostasis, reproduction, development or change the behavior of the affected animals. This work focuses on 7 endocrine disruptors - natural estron, 17β estradiol, estriol, and synthetic 17α-ethynylestradiol, irgasan (triclosan), 4-nonylfenol, bisphenol A in the influent and effluent of wastewater plants in the Czech Republic. The thesis contains an optimization of endocrine disruptors determination in wastewater, a preliminary screening to determinate concentration levels, 24 hours composite samples and monitoring of one selected wastewater plant during a day. The analytical procedure is based on filtration, solid-phase extraction (SPE), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), derivatization and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Keywords: endocrine disruptors, wastewaters, Czech...

The mismatching of alveolar ventilation and perfusion (VA/Q) is the major determinant of impaired gas exchange. The gold standard for analyzing VA/Q distribution is the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET), conventionally based on gas chromatography (GC), and, although simple in principle, a technically demanding procedure limiting its use. A new technique based on micropore membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MMIMS) combined MIGET with mass spectrometry, simplifying the sample handling process, and potentially providing VA/Q distributions for a general clinical approach. The kinetics of volatile anesthetics are well known in patients with healthy lungs. The uptake and distribution of inhaled anesthetics have usually been modeled by physiologic models. However, these models have limitations, and they do not consider ventilation/perfusion matching. Respiratory diseases account for a large part of morbidity and mortality and are associated with pulmonary VA/Q mismatch that may affect uptake and elimination of volatile anesthetics. The objectives of the studies were firstly to investigate assessment of VA/Q mismatch by MMIMS and secondly to investigate the effects of asthma-like VA/Q mismatch on the kinetics of volatile anesthetics in an experimental porcine model. Anesthetized and mechanically ventilated piglets were studied. In study I, a direct comparison of MIGET by MMIMS with the conventional MIGET by GC in three animal models that covered a wide range of VA/Q distributions was preformed. The two methods agreed well, and parameters derived from both methods showed good agreement with externally measured references. In studies II–IV, a stable method of inducing and maintaining asthma-like VA/Q mismatch with methacholine (MCh) administration was established, and the effect of VA/Q mismatch on the pharmacokinetics of desflurane and isoflurane was investigated. The present model of bronchoconstriction demonstrates a delay in volatile anesthetic uptake and elimination, related to the heterogeneity of MCh-inhalation induced ventilation. The difference in solubility of volatile anesthetics has a significant influence on their uptake and elimination under VA/Q mismatch. The higher blood soluble isoflurane is affected to a lesser degree than the fairly insoluble desflurane.

Mentha longifolia subsp. polyadena was collected from seven localities in South Africa and from a single population in Botswana to study the essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of this ethnomedicinal plant. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and a cluster analysis was performed on the essential oil dataset. From eight samples (representing eight natural populations), two major chemotypes were identified: (i) a menthofuran rich type (51.4% - 61.6%); and (ii) a cis-piperitone epoxide (14.7% – 35.7%) and piperitenone oxide (14.6% - 65.7%) rich type. The constituent analysis showed quantitative variation with higher amounts of oxygencontaining monoterpenes ranging from 56.5% to 89.6% whilst the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons ranged from 4.4% to 16.7%. The essential oil from the different localities mostly showed moderate to good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Yersinia enterocolitica and Enterococcus faecalis. The oils were generally inactive against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans indicated highest sensitivities for oil samples from Komukwane (3 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml respectively) and Prins Albert (0.5 mg/ml and 1.6 mg/ml respectively). The HPLC profiles of the methanol and chloroform (1:1) extracts were more conservative and less variable compared to the essential oils. Two major peaks corresponding to retention times of 22.39 min and 26.47 min were present in all eight samples. Most of the solvent extracts displayed moderate to good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive pathogens, in particular against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and B. cereus with MIC values ranging from 0.5 mg/ml to 2 mg/ml in most cases. The extracts also demonstrated moderate to good activity against most of the Gram-negative pathogens, in particular against Y. eneterocolitica and M. catarrhalis, with MIC values ranging from 0.5 mg/ml to 2 mg/ml. These results may in part provide scientific evidence for the extensive use of Mentha longifolia in traditional healing.

A adição de diferentes substâncias (adulterantes e diluentes) no crack (freebase) é um fenômeno bem conhecido no mercado ilícito. Os adulterantes podem interagir com a cocaína e determinar novas e desconhecidas síndromes tóxicas influindo no estado clínico das intoxicações, especialmente em casos em que houve modificação das vias de administração. No Brasil a análise de adulterantes, contaminantes e/ou diluentes adicionados ao crack não constitui rotina nos laboratórios oficiais. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho pretendeu a caracterização de um grupo de amostras de crack que fornecerá informações na investigação sobre o narcotráfico, no estudo da morbi-letalidade, bem como na toxicovigilância. O método utilizado neste trabalho foi realizado com a técnica de cromatografia gasosa acoplada a detector em ionização de chamas CG-DIC. Os resultados obtidos nas análises de amostras provenientes de apreensões realizadas na região metropolitana de São Paulo num período de 20 meses, no período de março de 2008 a novembro de 2009, mostraram que 9,16% das amostras continham lidocaína, benzocaína e cafeína como adulterantes e 14,57% continham outros adulterantes totalizando 23,73%. O percentual em teor médio de cocaína presentes nas amostras de crack foi de 71,3%. Adicionalmente foram avaliadas as propriedades organolépticas. O resultado das análises das amostras estudadas mostrou maior teor de cocaína em relação à cocaína comercializada na forma de sal (cloridrato ou sulfato) comercializado como \"droga de rua\" no Estado de São Paulo. Ainda, os interferentes e adulterantes encontrados nas amostras estudadas permitem a inferência do importante problema de saúde pública advindos do uso dessa droga. / The addition of different substances (contaminants and fillers) in the crack (freebase) is a well known phenomenon in the illicit market. The contaminants can interact with cocaine and identify new and unknown toxic syndromes influencing the clinical state of intoxication, especially in cases where there was a modification of the routes. In Brazil, the analysis of adulterants, contaminants and / or extenders added to the crack is not routine in official laboratories. In this context, this work aims to characterize a sample group of crack that provides information on an investigation into drug trafficking in the study of morbidity and mortality, as well as toxicological. The method used in this study utilized the technique of gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector GC-FID. The analysis results of samples from seizures made in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo in a period of 20 months, from March 2008 to November 2009 showed that 9.16% of the samples contained lidocaine, benzocaine, and caffeine as adulterants and 14.57% contained other adulterants totaling 23.73%. The average content in percentage of cocaine present in the samples of crack was 71.3%. Additionally, we evaluated the organoleptic properties of the row samples. The results of analysis of the samples tested showed higher levels of cocaine in the cocaine sold in the form of salt (hydrochloride or sulfate) marketed as \"street drug\" in the State of São Paulo. Still, the interferences and adulterants found in the samples studied allow the inference of important public health problem arising from the use of this drug.

O tabagismo durante a gravidez é o principal fator de risco previsível associado com complicações tanto no parto quanto na gestação. Estão relacionados, por exemplo, partos prematuros, baixo peso ao nascer, doenças no trato respiratório do feto e, com a morte infantil. A exposição à fumaça do tabaco pode ser avaliada através da presença de nicotina e cotinina nos fluidos biológicos, incluindo plasma, soro, urina, saliva, cabelo e unha. A saliva é uma matriz alternativa que apresenta como vantagens a facilidade de obtenção, não é uma amostra invasiva, a coleta pode ser assistida, é de baixo custo, o risco de contração de infecções durante a coleta e manuseio da amostra é mínimo e pode ser utilizada em situações que é difícil a obtenção de outro tipo de amostra. Como a prevalência de gestantes fumantes de cigarro é relativamente alta, é importante uma confirmação por um laboratório de análise para classificar de forma correta e confiável se a gestante é fumante ou não. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi desenvolver e validar um método para análise de nicotina e cotinina em amostras de saliva de gestantes. Foi utilizada a extração líquido-líquido para o preparo das amostras de saliva e foi realizada a cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector termiônico específico para a separação, identificação e quantificação dos analitos nicotina, cotinina e do padrão interno ketamina. O limite de detecção foi de 10 ng/mL para nicotina e de 6 ng/mL para cotinina. Os limites inferiores de quantificação foram de 40 ng/mL e 20 ng/mL para a nicotina e cotinina, respectivamente. O método foi considerado linear na faixa de concentração de 40 a 2000 ng/mL (R=0,996) para a nicotina e de 20 a 2000 ng/mL (R=0,999) para a cotinina. Os valores de recuperação dos analitos variaram de 66,1% a 92,2%. A precisão intradia apresentou uma variação de 6,06% a 11,50% e a precisão interdia variou de 6,89% a 10,57%. A exatidão intradia variou de -11,29% a 19,81%, e os valores da exatidão interdia variaram de -11,78% a 13,08%. Ambos os analitos apresentaram estabilidade nas amostras biológicas e em solução. Na primeira avaliação (período gestacional de 1 a 25 semanas), o método foi aplicado em 259 amostras de saliva de gestantes fumantes e não fumantes. E na segunda (período gestacional de 36 a 40 semanas e até 113 dias após o parto), foi aplicado em 45 amostras de gestantes fumantes. Foi observada uma diferença significativa ao comparar o autorrelato das gestantes fumantes e não fumantes, na primeira avaliação, com a concentração de nicotina e cotinina nas amostras de saliva (p<0,001). As concentrações de cotinina em amostras de saliva correlacionaram positivamente com o número de cigarros consumidos diariamente pelas gestantes fumantes, na primeira avaliação (p<0,001). Não foram obtidas diferenças estaticamente significativas para as variáveis: número de cigarros diários (p=0,255), concentração de nicotina (p=0,949) e cotinina (p=0,665). O ponto de corte da nicotina foi maior que zero, com sensibilidade de 36,8% e especificidade de 97,7%. Para a cotinina, o ponto de corte foi maior que 17,2 ng/mL, com sensibilidade de 94,3% e especificidade de 98,8%. O método analítico desenvolvido e validado atendeu aos critérios exigidos pela resolução 27/2012 e à 899/2003 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. / Smoking during pregnancy is the main factor associated with complications in both and gestation. It is related, for example, premature births, low birth weight, diseases in the respiratory tract of the fetus and, with child death. Exposure to tobacco smoke can be assessed by the presence of nicotine and cotinine in biological fluids including plasma, serum, urine, saliva, hair and nails. The saliva is an alternative matrix that presents as advantages the ease of obtaining, is not an invasive sample, the collection can be assisted, it is of low cost, the risk of contraction of infections during the collection and handling of the sample is minimal and can be used in situations where it is difficult to obtain another type of sample. As the prevalence of pregnant cigarette smokers is relatively high, confirmation by an analysis laboratory is important to correctly and reliably classify whether the pregnant woman is a smoker or not. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a method for the analysis of nicotine and cotinine in saliva samples from pregnant women. Liquid-liquid extraction was used for the preparation of saliva samples and gas chromatography with specific thermionic detector was performed for the separation, identification and quantification of the analytes nicotine, cotinine and the internal standard ketamine. The limit of detection was 10 ng/mL for nicotine and 6 ng/mL for cotinine. The lower limits of quantification were 40 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL for nicotine and cotinine, respectively. The method was considered linear in the concentration range of 40 to 2000 ng/mL (R=0.996) for nicotine and 20-2000 ng/mL (R=0.999) for cotinine. The recovery values of the analytes range from 66.1% to 92.2%. The intraday precision ranged from 6.06% to 11.50% and the interday precision ranged from 6.89% to 10.57%. The intraday accuracy ranged from -11.29% to 19.81%, and the interday accuracy ranged from -11.78% to 13.08%. Both analytes presented stability in the biological samples and in solution. At the first evaluation (gestational period of 1 to 25 weeks), the method was applied to 259 saliva samples from pregnant smokers and nonsmokers. And in the second (gestational period of 36 to 40 weeks and up to 113 days postpartum), it was applied in 45 samples of pregnant smokers. A significant difference was observed when comparing the self-report of pregnant smokers and nonsmokers in the first evaluation with the concentration of nicotine and cotinine in saliva samples (p<0.001). The concentrations of cotinine in saliva samples correlated positively with the number of cigarettes consumed daily by pregnant smokers in the first evaluation (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were found for the variables: number of daily cigarettes (p=0.255), nicotine concentration (p=0.949) and cotinine (p=0.665). The cutoff point of nicotine was greater than zero, with sensitivity of 36.8% and specificity of 97.7%. For cotinine, the cutoff point was greater than 17.2 ng/mL, with sensitivity of 94.3% and specificity of 98.8%. The analytical method developed and validated met the criteria required by resolution 27/2012 and 899/2003 of the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency.