Analysis of Beta-agonists in Animal Feeds by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

Contamination of beta-agonists (salbutamol, clenbuterol and ractopamine) were measured in a total 74 collected animal feed samples including 33 swine, 18 cattle and 23 chicken by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The most often found were salbutamol, clenbuterol and ractopamine representing of 95, 74 and 53 percent, respectively and most found in cattle feeds followed by swine and poultry feeds, respectively. The result detected that there was a clenbuterol substance in high concentration of each kinds of samples. Clenbuterol which was found in high concentration the range from 0.35-3.94 ng/g on swine feeds. Salbutamol and ractopamine were found in the similar range of high concentration the range from 0.06-2.95 ng/g on cattle feeds. This illegal usage may harm to animal, human and environment. Therefore, monitoring of drugs in feed has become important to ensure feed and food safety.