Detection of malathion in a victim by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

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Abstract
Summary We experienced an autopsy case in which a 53-year-old woman committed suicide by ingesting allegedly a certain agricultural chemical. The blood and stomach contents, after extraction with acetonitrile and chloroform, were subjected to analysis by gas chromatography (GC)/negative ion chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry (MS). By total ion monitoring in the negative CI mode, a large peak appeared. The mass spectrum of the peak showed a strong anion at m/z 157, suggesting the presence of an organophosphorus pesticide. By measuring its spectrum in the positive electron impact (EI) mode, it was identified as malathion. The selected ion monitoring in the negative CI mode showed that the malathion peak was not interfered with by any impurities, and its background was very low. The sensitivity in the negative CI mode was about 5–10 times higher than that in the positive EI mode. Our data show that the GC/negative ion CI MS is useful for both screening and sensitive quantitation of organophosphorus pesticides.