Hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method to analyze bisphenol A and other plasticizer metabolites

Abstract

Phthalates and bisphenol A are important environmental pollutants due to their toxicity for humans and animals, including actions in the endocrine system. Their metabolites in urine can be used as biomarkers to assess human exposure. This paper describes the development of a new method to determine bisphenol A and eight phthalate metabolites in urine samples using hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This method showed linearity, precision, limits of detection, and quantification suitable to analyze these compounds at low concentration levels in urine. Limits of detection ranged from 0.777 to 23.3 μg L−1, showing sensitivity for evaluating environmental exposure. Relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 11.7 to 19.7%. The developed method presented a good biomarker alternative for evaluating environmental exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates.