Detection of perfluoroalkyl acids and sulphonates in Italian eel samples by HPLC-HRMS Orbitrap

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) contain one or more carbon-bound hydrogens substituted by fluorine. Since the 1950s, these compounds have been used to manufacture fat- and water-resistant fabrics, paper and food containers, and to produce photographic films, firefighting foams, detergents and insecticides. The widespread use and global distribution of PFASs, have led to their accumulation in the environment. Food, particularly fish and other seafood, is considered the main route of human exposure to PFASs. Consequently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that more data be collected, to build a database on the contamination levels of the individual PFASs in food, to evaluate a reliable chronic risk to the European consumers. This requires high-sensitivity analytical methods, to increase the number of quantifiable samples and, thereby, improve the credibility of exposure assessments. In this context, the aim of the present research is to develop and validate a sensitive and specific method based on high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) analysis, to monitor the presence of 16 PFASs in Italian eels (Anguilla anguilla) from the Italian Lake Garda. The detection limits (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) in the order of pg g, the recoveries between 80 and 101% and the other validation parameters fulfilled the requirements of Commission Decision 657/2002/EC. The identification and quantification of PFASs, up to 11 in the same sample, showed a similar distribution among 90 eels. Perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were the analytes more frequently found in the eel samples (94 and 82%, respectively).

Perfluoroalkyl contaminants in eggs from backyard chickens reared in Italy

“…Food can also be contaminated through the presence of PFAS in food packaging or processing equipment (EFSA, 2020). Several studies have been conducted to assess PFAS contamination in different food products, with fish and seafood reported to contain the highest level of these contaminants (Barbarossa et al, 2016;Chiesa et al, 2018;EFSA, 2018;Hlouskova et al, 2013;Jian et al, 2017;Vestergren, Berger, Glynn, & Cousins, 2012).…”

Presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in Mediterranean sea and North Italian lake fish addressed to Italian consumer

“…PFASs were chromatographically separated by a Raptor ARC‐18 5 µm, 120 × 2.1 mm column (Restek, Bellefonte, PA, USA). Stainless steel tubes and peeks, used to minimise background PFASs contamination of the system, were applied (Chiesa et al ., 2018). Moreover, a small Megabond WR C18 column, 5 cm, 4.6 mm, i.d.…”

Analysis of surfactants by mass spectrometry: Coming to grips with their diversity

“…Photolysis also yielded one by-product, whose [M-H]ion was observed at m/z 425.983 (Figure 14c; Δm = 2.5 ppm): the interpretation of tandem mass spectrum in Figure 14c allowed to identify the compound as 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide. Chiesa et al (2018) developed and validated a sensitive method by HPLC-HRMS to monitor the occurrence of 16 PFAS in eels from the Gard Lake (Italy). The LOD were in the order of pg/g and the recoveries were between 80% and 101%.…”

“…Chiesa et al (2018) developed and validated a sensitive method by HPLC‐HRMS to monitor the occurrence of 16 PFAS in eels from the Gard Lake (Italy). The LOD were in the order of pg/g and the recoveries were between 80% and 101%.…”