Quantitative determination of endocrine- disrupting polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides in human serum using gas chromatography with electron-capture detection and tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A sensitive, selective and reliable procedure was developed and validated to determine organochlorinated compounds, which have endocrine-disrupting effects, in human serum. Target compounds were selected between polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorinated pesticides. Sample workup consisted of (1) extraction of serum with organic solvents, (2) clean-up of the organic extract using acid treatment with H(2)SO(4), (3) elution of the cleaned-up extract through a liquid column chromatographic system and (4) analysis of the fraction eluted by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (ECD) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection. Performance characteristics, such as linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy and recovery, of both chromatographic methods were studied. The proposed analytical methodology was applied to determine the target compounds in serum samples from women living in agricultural areas of Almería (Spain). The results show the advantage of MS/MS over ECD in the analysis of real human serum samples where matrix interferences can be confused with target pesticides.

Solid‐phase nanoextraction of polychlorinated biphenyls in water and their determination by gas chromatography with electron capture detector

“…Due to their chemical structure resemblance to sex hormones, PCBs can mimic the effect of these hormones and may lead to medical problems such as uterine, cervical, or breast cancers. These compounds may also cause other health-related problems, including physical and mental development disturbances [3,4]. The EPA has been found in increasing rate of oral cancer due to taking water-soluble PCB congeners [5].…”