HPLC-MS/MS method for the measurement of insecticide degradates in baby food.

A solid phase extraction method was developed to isolate four insecticide degradates from baby food that were measured subsequently using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The degradates [parent insecticide] measured were malathion dicarboxylic acid [malathion], 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol [chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos methyl] (TCPy), cis/trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid [permethrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin], and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid [general pyrethroid]. All degradates produced recoveries between 80 and 120% except TCPy in fruit (122% recovery), and all relative standard deviations were <16%. Use of this method demonstrated that insecticide degradates were found in baby foods frequently purchased in the United States, supporting the need for this method. These data will assist in differentiating whether biomarker levels of insecticide metabolites are the result of exposures to the toxic insecticide or its preformed degradate.