MULTI-RESIDUE ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR URON AND CARBAMATE PESTICIDES IN WATER USING SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

A multi-residue analytical method for carbendazim, chlorotoluron, diur on, isoproturon, linuron and methiocarb in drinking water has been dev eloped. It should also be applicable to ground and surface waters. The method uses solid-phase extraction with octadecyl-bonded silica cartr idges followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry under discha rge-assisted thermospray ionisation. The method was found to provide s atisfactory performance with respect to the requirements of the drinki ng water supply regulations in the U.K., with limits of detection of 0 .04-0.05 mu gl(-1), relative standard deviations of better than 10% an d recoveries of 99-116% at pesticide concentrations around the prescri bed concentration (0.1 mu gl(-1) for single pesticides).