Determination of the polar pesticide degradation product N,N-dimethylsulfamide in aqueous matrices by UPLC-MS/MS.

This study presents a fast, sensitive, and robust method for the determination of the polar pesticide degradation product N,N-dimethylsulfamide (DMS) in water based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). To provide a robust analysis method, the use of an internal standard for both natural waters and model water was examined in order to compensate for matrix effects. The relative standard deviation was found to be +/-15% (n = 10) and the limit of detection was 10 ng/L by direct injection in the UPLC-MS/MS system. The only sample preparation step required is the addition of the internal standard. The chromatographic analysis of one sample takes 4 min and thus is applicable for economic routine laboratory work. More than 600 samples of drinking water, surface water, and groundwater have been examined successfully with this method in the Rhine and Ruhr region of North Rhine Westphalia (Germany). Approximately 65% of analyzed samples contained measurable amounts of DMS at concentrations up to 63 microg/L.