title: Rapid and sensitive method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils using pseudo multiple reaction monitoring gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: A method for the rapid determination of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil has been established based on a simplified solvent extraction and GC/MS/MS operated in pseudo multiple reaction monitoring mode (PMRM), a technique where the two quadrupoles mass monitor the same m/z. The PMRM approach proved superior to the classic single quadrupole technique, with enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and significant reduction in time consuming sample clean-up procedures. Trace level PAHs could be readily confirmed by their retention times and characteristic ions. The limit of quantitation in soil was observed to be 20ng/g for 16 EPA-priority PAHs and 2 additional PAHs specific to Environment Canada. The developed method was linear over the calibration range 20-4000ng/g in soil, with observed coefficients of determination of >0.996. Individual PAH recoveries from fortified soil were in the range 58.1 to 110.1%, with a precision between 0.3 and 4.9% RSD. The ruggedness of the method was demonstrated by the success of an inter-lab proficiency test study organized by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation. The present method was found to be applicable as a rapid, routine screening for PAH contamination in soil, with significant savings in terms of preparation time and solvent usage.
authors.affiliation: Pacific and Yukon Laboratory for Environmental Testing, Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, Environment Canada, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: dayue.shang@ec.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Dayue
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Agilent Technologies Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Pacific and Yukon Laboratory for Environmental Testing, Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, Environment Canada, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberl
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: GC/MS; GC/MS/MS; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pseudo MRM; Rapid extraction; Soil and sediment