Simultaneous trace analysis of 10 benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters in fish through liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2021-10, Vol.286, p.117306-117306, Article 117306
• Main Authors: Huang, Yu-Fang, Chang, Jui-Pin, Chen, Hsin-Chang, Huang, Yi-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters; Fish; Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117306

We developed and validated a trace analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 10 benzophenone (BP)-type ultraviolet filters (BPs; BP, BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-8, 2-hydroxybenzophenone [2-OHBP], 4-hydroxybenzophenone [4-OHBP], 4-methylbenzophenone [4-MBP], methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate [M2BB], and 4-benzoylbiphenyl [PBZ]) to analyze BPs in 110 commercial fish samples. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) technique coupled with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was employed. The developed method exhibited satisfactory linearity (R2 > 0.993), favorable precision with intraday and interday relative standard deviation ranges of 1.0%–26.6% and 2.3%–29.3%, respectively, and a limit of detection ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 ng/g. BP and 2-OHBP were detected in 100% of the samples; BP-3, 4-OHBP, PBZ, and 4-MBP were detected in >70% of the samples; M2BB was detected in 33% of the samples, and BP-2 and BP-8 were not detected. Higher mean (minimum–maximum) levels of 2-OHBP and BP were found in fish samples with low lipid content, ranging from 18 (1.1–218.3) to 10 (0.5–45.4) ng/g, and those with high lipid content, ranging from 22 (1.5–76.4) to 9.6 (5.2–18.5) ng/g; low levels of the remaining six BPs were found, ranging from 0.01 to 0.9 ng/g. The mean 2-OHBP levels were 21.3, 14.4, and 30.2 ng/g for fish samples obtained from aquaculture in Taiwan, the wild in Taiwan, and different countries, respectively, with levels up to 218.3 ng/g (field eel) for a sample from Indonesia. BPs may not pose a health risk to Taiwanese adults through the consumption of fish; however, additional studies are needed to examine the risk that these contaminants may pose to ecosystems and human health. [Display omitted] •QuEChERS coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS was developed and validated for 10 BPs in fish.•BP, BP-3, 2-OHBP, 4-OHBP, 4-MBP, and PBZ were ubiquitous in fish from Taiwan.•2-OHBP had the highest level, up to 218 ng/g, followed by BP.•BPs may not pose a risk through fish consumption in Taiwanese adults.