Project Page Views: [ 737 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | The development of nanoliquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) methods for the determination of triazine herbicides and endocrine disruptors in wastewater, lake water and drinking water. |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | nanoL-MS |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Ambrose Furey |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 51.88540, -8.53455 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/10/2005 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/04/2007 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Triazine herbicide; Agriculture; Crop production; Surface water |
| Project Abstract | The triazine herbicides, including, simazine (6-chloro-N,N-dimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), atrizine (2-chkloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine and cyanaznie were developed as selective weed killers. Their design function is to disrupt the photosynthesis of broad-leaved plants. In the intensive production of grasses (e.g. wheat, cereals, etc.) broad-leafed plants growing in the grass production area are economically costly, compeditiors with the grasses for nutrients; their removal is facilitated by the triazines herbicides and simazine and atrizine and are the predominant compounds used. Significant amounts of triazine herbicides are consumed by the agriculture each year. However, due to the indiscriminant use of pesticides/herbicides, traces of herbicides have been found in run-off waters and leachate from agricultural lands. These herbicides can pose a risk to the health of humans and animals as they are suspected carcinogens. The European Community has put in place regulations in order to protect human health, wildlife and the environment. The Regulations designated, Si 439 of 2000, set the following standards for herbicides/pesticides and related products (A) 0.1 g/l for each other individual pesticide/herbicide and related product (such as a growth regulator) and their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction products; and (B) 0.5 g/l for total pesticides/herbicides. In surface water, these limits are about an order of magnitude higher (1-3 g/l). The current maximum contaminant level (MCL) for drinking water for atrizine is 3 g/l and the contaminant level goal (MCLG) for simazine has been set at 4 g/l (ppb). It is therefore imperativethat adequate monitoring programmes are implemented in Ireland to assess the triazines herbicides levels in reservoir water, drinking water and wastewater treatment processes. Under the present research a sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS analytical method was developed and validated to quantitatively determine herbicides in various sample matrices and hence establish if Cork County, the largest agricultural county in Ireland has an environmental problem with triazine herbicides. |