title: Analytical performance of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer compared to a high resolution mass spectrometer for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish.
abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of flame retardants used globally in many consumer products and industrial applications. Traditionally, gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HR-MS) is the method of choice for analysis of PBDEs in environmental samples because it offers high sensitivity and selectivity, resulting in less interferences. However, the specificity offered by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-QQQ-MS/MS), operated in selected reaction monitoring mode, provides a more affordable alternative to GC-HR-MS for the analysis of PBDEs in complex environmental samples. In this study, an analytical method was developed for the analysis of 41 PBDE congeners in fish using GC-QQQ-MS/MS. Results from the analysis of three fish species [lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)] using GC-QQQ-MS/MS were compared with those obtained by GC-HR-MS. These species were selected because they represent varying levels of lipid-rich matrix and contaminant loads. Instrumental limits of detection for the GC-QQQ-MS/MS ranged from 0.04 pg to 41 pg, whereas those for the GC-HR-MS ranged from 5 pg to 85 pg. The PBDE values obtained from these two methods were highly correlated, R(2) values >0.7, for all three fish species, supporting the suitability of GC-QQQ-MS/MS for analysis of PBDEs in fish with varying fat content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Fuentetaja
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Grazina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacepavicius
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clapsadl
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaee
authors.forename: Diana S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Aga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers