title: Atmospheric pressure solid analysis probe coupled to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry as a tool for screening and semi-quantitative approach of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and oxo-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in complex matrices.
abstract: A new screening and semi-quantitative approach has been developed for direct analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitro and oxo derivatives in environmental and biological matrices using atmospheric pressure solid analysis probe (ASAP) quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS). The instrumental parameters were optimized for the analysis of all these compounds, without previous sample treatment, in soil, motor oil, atmospheric particles (ashes) and biological samples such as urine and saliva of smokers and non-smokers. Ion source parameters in the MS were found to be the key parameters, with little variation within PAHs families. The optimized corona current was 4 µA, sample cone voltage 80 V for PAHs, nitro-PAHs and oxo-PAHs, while the desolvation temperatures varied from 300°C to 500°C. The analytical method performance was checked using a certified reference material. Two deuterated compounds were used as internal standards for semi-quantitative purposes together with the pure individual standard for each compound and the corresponding calibration plot. The compounds nitro PAH 9-nitroanthracene and oxo-PAH 1,4-naphthalenedione, were found in saliva and urine in a range below 1 µg/g while the range of PAHs in these samples was below 2 µg/g. Environmental samples provided higher concentration of all pollutants than urine and saliva.
authors.affiliation: Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), EINA, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carrizo
authors.affiliation: Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), EINA, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domeño
authors.affiliation: Smoking Cessation Unit, Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nerín
authors.affiliation: Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), EINA, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.affiliation: Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), EINA, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: cnerin@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nerín
mesh_terms: D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Ambient ionization mass spectrometry; Cancer; Direct analysis; Organic pollutants; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Screening; Tobacco