Determination of chemical contaminants in marine fish by GCMS/MS using QuEChERS as an extraction method

Introduction

As Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are environmental contaminants with a strong potential for bioaccumulation, these chemicals are expected to be present in farm animals and food products of animal origin.[1] In recent years, the occurrence of various POPs, in the marine environment has received much attention with regards to their effects on human health. Especially in India, marine water is contaminated due to uncontrolled disposal from industries and domestic waste. Hence the fish obtained from it has high risk of contamination. Evidently, it becomes necessary to have sensitive, accurate, reliable, reproducible and fast analytical method to quantify these POPs in marine fish at ppb levels. Fish is a complex matrix and hence requires selective extraction and extensive cleanup such as QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) to ensure trace level detection with adequate precision and accuracy. In this study, Shimadzu GCMS-TQ8040 was used in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode to analyze POPs like Organo-Chlorine Pesticides (OCP), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCB). Prawns sample purchased from local market was extracted, spiked and analyzed for obtaining LOD, LOQ, precision and recovery.

December 18, 2019 GMT