A LC-MS/MS procedure for the analysis of 19 perfluoroalkyl substances in food fulfilling recent EU regulations requests

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 266; no. Pt 2; p. 125054
• Main Authors: Stecconi, Tommaso, Tavoloni, Tamara, Stramenga, Arianna, Bacchiocchi, Simone, Barola, Carolina, Dubbini, Alessandra, Galarini, Roberta, Moretti, Simone, Sagratini, Gianni, Piersanti, Arianna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Analytical method; Home-produced eggs; LC-MS/MS; PFAS; LC-MS/MS; Home-produced eggs; PFAS; Analytical method
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125054

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetic, stable, fluorinated molecules widely used in consumer products. They are non-biodegradable, persistent and bio-accumulating. In 2020 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) lowered the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) for the four PFASs (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS) and in 2022, the EU issued a Recommendation asking to monitor twenty-one PFASs in food. Since 1st January 2023 limits in food were set. Here we report a sensitive, straightforward and robust procedure enabling the determination of 19 PFAS in food matrices using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (LC–MS/MS). Few are the published methods applicable to the different food matrices and covering the molecules listed in Recommendation 2022/1431, fulfilling the LOQs requested. The method was satisfactory validated (UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 and Regulation (EU) 2022/1428) and used to investigate hen egg samples, highlighting home-produced eggs as the more critical egg farming process for PFAS accumulation.
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•Sensitive PFAS method in food by LC-MS/MS, including 19 linear PFAS from C4–C14.•Quantification approach for PFAS not having their one isotopically labelled IS.•Accredited (ISO/IEC17025) method for PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFOS and 15 other PFAS.•PFBA and PFPeA confirmatory method based on a double chromatographic separation.•Method validated in all the regulated matrices.