A step forward using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) based extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-levels of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wild and commercial mussels.
A new and fully validated QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methodology was developed and subsequently implemented for the quantification of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wild (from Matosinhos Beach, Portugal) and commercial (from Ria de Arousa, Spain) mussels. The method proved to be robust, precise, and accurate, with recoveries ranging from 89.2 to 111.8 %. Total sums of 16 PAHs were 52.91 and 37.58 ng/g of wet weight for wild and commercial specimens, respectively. The three- to four-ring PAHs were the most abundant, and a mixture of petrogenic and pyrolytic sources were suspected to occur in both origin areas. Although the contamination levels were below the European regulated limits, specifically for commercial mussels (this despite wild specimens are also consumed), care should be taken in terms of human health, since we are still not aware of the low-dose versus long-term effects, even more in high-risk population groups.
Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal, tvmadureira@icbas.up.pt.
Tânia Vieira
TV
Madureira
Susana
S
Velhote
Cláudia
C
Santos
Catarina
C
Cruzeiro
Eduardo
E
Rocha
Maria João
MJ
Rocha
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011174:Portugal; D013030:Spain; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical