Screening of pesticides from soil samples using solid-phase microextraction

Residues of pesticides and their degradation products in soil present a ser ous problem for crops, soil organisms and humans. For isolation of this typ e of compounds solid-phase microextraction (SPME) could be used in combinat ion with conventional extraction method. This modern separation method was optimized for extraction of organochlorine and triazine pesticides from soi l samples. Analytes were desorbed from the fiber in the injector of a gas c hromatograph and determined by either electron capture or mass spectrometri c detection. Linearity and limits of detection were tested in the 0.1 - 20. 0 ng/g range for organochlorines and 10 - 100 ng/g range for triazines. The method presented could be used for screening of pesticides in contaminated soil samples and offers a simple alternative to establish methods of pesti cide analysis in soil.