Trends in sample preparation and analysis of current use pesticides in abiotic environmental matrices

Current-use pesticides (CUPs) are the replacements of legacy organochlorine pesticides. The increasing use of CUPs has resulted in their occurrence in various environmental matrices including water, air, soil and sediment. The diversity in the physicochemical properties of CUPs and the complexity of the matrices pose challenges in the selection and optimization of laboratory methods for their measurement. This review provides a summary and comparison of different methods used in the sample extraction, extract cleanup, and instrumental analysis for the determination of CUPs in abiotic environmental matrices. About 150 papers are reviewed, most were published between 2015 and 2023. Solid phase extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, QuEChERS, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS are the major techniques adopted in most studies. Environmental friendliness, microscale, automation, and sensitivity are the developing trends of CUPs analysis. This review is useful for analytical method development and future research on CUPs in water, air, soil, and sediment.