New method for the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

There are numerous types of contaminants that pose a health risk to aquatic organisms and consequently also to humans through consumption. Endocrine disrupting compounds are found in daily-use products and have the potential to mimic natural hormones. The main objective of this work is to optimize and validate a method for the determination of bisphenols, parabens and triclocarban in natural samples of Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The procedure involves ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and a subsequent clean-up of the extracts using dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) with C18 adsorbent, and analysis by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Sensitivity, accuracy (trueness and precision), linearity and selectivity of the method were studied. The limits of detection ranged from 0.2 ng g-1 to 1.5 ng g-1 dry weight. The trueness of the method (estimation of recovery) was between 90 % for TCC (triclocarban) and 109.6 % for BPP (bisphenol P), with an estimated precision lower than 12.6 % for all the investigated analytes. The application of the method was to specimens of Mytilus galloprovincialis collected along the Mediterranean coast of Granada (South Spain), where the species is abundant. The study conducted in different sample sites revealed EDCs presence in this aquatic species.

Automated summary

The study optimized a method for analyzing bisphenols, parabens, and triclocarban in Mediterranean mussels, finding the presence of EDCs in the species. The method, using UAE and UHPLC-MS/MS, showed high sensitivity, accuracy, and applicability for studying endocrine disrupting compounds in aquatic organisms.