Determination of 30 PFAS in Eggs, Produce, Seafood, Protein Powder, and Baby Food by LC-MS/MS

Importance of the Topic

PFAS are persistent environmental contaminants with potential health risks. They accumulate in food products such as eggs produce seafood protein powders and baby food consumed regularly including by vulnerable groups. Sensitive and reliable analytics are critical for monitoring PFAS levels ensuring compliance with safety standards and protecting public health.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study aimed to develop and validate a single workflow for quantifying 30 PFAS compounds across various food matrices including eggs produce seafood protein powder and baby food. The work followed AOAC SMPR 2023.003 guidelines and addressed strict European Union limits for select PFAS in eggs and the most stringent criteria for baby food and produce. Experiments included method optimization spiking at four concentration levels and evaluation of recovery accuracy and repeatability.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation and Extraction

• Ten gram portions of each matrix were spiked with native PFAS and isotopically labeled internal standards at four levels in triplicate
• Samples were extracted using a QuEChERS protocol with acetonitrile addition QuEChERS salts and WAX SPE cleanup
• Extracts were concentrated in a methanol water mixture and diluted before analysis

Chromatography and Detection

• Shimadzu Nexera liquid chromatograph coupled to LCMS 8060NX triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was employed
• Heated electrospray ionization in negative mode provided high sensitivity for PFAS analytes
• Chromatographic separation was optimized to resolve all target compounds and potential interferences within nine minutes

Main Results and Discussion

Calibration and Linearity

• Matrix matched calibration curves were linear across the studied range with residuals within 25 percent
• Branched and linear isomers of PFHxS and PFOS were integrated collectively

Recoveries and Precision

• Detection limits met or exceeded the SMPR requirements for all 30 PFAS in each matrix
• Mean recoveries at the limit of quantitation ranged from approximately 70 to 115 percent depending on compound and matrix
• Relative standard deviations were below 20 percent for all analytes confirming method repeatability

Chromatographic Performance

• Optimized gradient delivered sharp peak shapes and baseline separation of critical isomers
• Total run time was reduced to nine minutes increasing sample throughput without compromising resolution

Benefits and Practical Applications

• The validated workflow provides a unified approach for PFAS monitoring across diverse food types
• High throughput analysis supports routine screening in quality control and regulatory laboratories
• Compliance with AOAC and EU guidelines ensures data reliability for risk assessment and policy enforcement

Future Trends and Applications

• Integration of automated sample preparation platforms to further increase throughput
• Extension of method to emerging PFAS compounds and high resolution mass spectrometry approaches for broader screening
• Development of standardized reference materials to harmonize interlaboratory comparisons

Conclusion

The developed LC MS MS method on the Shimadzu Nexera LC and LCMS 8060NX system enables rapid sensitive and accurate quantitation of 30 PFAS in eggs produce seafood protein powder and baby food. Method performance met strict AOAC SMPR 2023.003 requirements demonstrating suitability for regulatory compliance and routine quality monitoring.

Reference

• Gruszecka D Matsubara T Imoto E Maeshima N Kobayashi M Lipps W Determination of 30 PFAS in Eggs Produce Seafood Protein Powder and Baby Food by LC MS MS Shimadzu Scientific Instruments and Shimadzu Corporation 2023