LC-MS/MS method of 12 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in protein-rich foods for total diet study
Haejin Kwon1,2, Bogyoung Choi1, Jee-Yeon Lee3
1Advanced Analysis and Data Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Animal-derived foods are major contributors to dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). To support exposure assessment in the Total Diet Study (TDS), a simultaneous liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for twelve PFAS in protein-rich foods was validated using boiled chicken breast as a representative matrix. The method showed high linearity (R2 > 0.997), with limits of quantification below 0.1 µg/kg for eleven PFAS and 0.121 µg/kg for PFNA. Recoveries ranged from 81.1 to 110% with intraday precision of 0.30-11%. Proficiency testing yielded satisfactory z-scores (-0.7-0.7). The validated method was applied to five cooked or processed foods, including boiled egg, fried pork cutlet, boiled shrimp, canned tuna, and canned whelk. Recoveries generally met the performance criteria of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, although higher values were observed for some analyte-matrix combinations. Overall, the method is suitable for determining PFAS in various protein-rich foods and supporting TDS-based dietary exposure assessments.
