PCDD, PCDF, AND DL-PCB analysis in food: performance evaluation of the high-resolution gas chromatography/low-resolution tandem mass spectrometry technique using consensus-based samples.
Due to safety concerns regarding dietary exposure to POPs, regulatory bodies are issuing detailed guidelines for testing for polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs) ('dioxins') and dioxin-like (DL)-PCBs in foods of animal origin. Determination of the aforesaid chemicals at regulatory levels requires highly selective and sensitive testing techniques. The new generation of low-resolution mass spectrometers (triple quadrupoles) allows very low levels of quantification to be reached (in the order of tens of femtograms), thus suggesting a potential for their application in food and feed analysis. The performance of the low-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LRMS/MS) approach with triple quadrupoles was assessed on a qualified set of food samples from proficiency tests (PTs) and defense analysis. Accuracy was tested comparing the results with data from high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and with consensus values from PTs. The cumulative TEQ results were characterized by deviations not exceeding 15% of PCDD + PCDF, DL-PCB, and PCDD + PCDF + DL-PCB (TEQ(TOT)) reference consensus values (sample TEQ(TOT) range, 2.29-25.1 pgWHO-TEQ(97)/g fat). Congener analytical variabilities did not influence significantly the WHO-TEQ(97) outcome of the corresponding sample. This preliminary performance evaluation highlights the potential of LRMS/MS as a routine technique for quantitative analysis of PCDDs, PCDFs, and DL-PCBs in food.
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Reparto di Chimica Tossicologica, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-00161, Rome, Italy.
Anna Maria
AM
Ingelido
Gianfranco
G
Brambilla
Annalisa
A
Abballe
Alessandro
A
di Domenico
Anna Rita
AR
Fulgenzi
Nicola
N
Iacovella
Anna Laura
AL
Iamiceli
Silvia
S
Valentini
Elena
E
De Felip
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D002020:Buffaloes; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D004524:Eels; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls