Determination of the phenoxyacid herbicides MCPA, mecoprop and 2,4-D in kidney tissue using liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

An analytical method was developed to determine the phenoxyacid herbicides 2,4-D, MCPA and mecoprop in kidney tissue from animals where poisoning is suspected. Samples were Soxhlet extracted using diethyl ether and the extracts cleaned-up using anion exchange solid phase extraction cartridges. Analysis was performed using liquid chromatography with negative-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method was evaluated by analysing control kidney samples fortified at 1 and 5 mg/kg. Mean recoveries ranged from 82 to 93% with relative standard deviations from 3.2 to 19%. The limit of detection was estimated to be 0.02 mg/kg.