Determination of bisphenol-A levels in human amniotic fluid samples by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals used widely in common consumer products. There is an increasing concern about human exposure to BPA, particularly in fetuses, due to the potential adverse effects related to the estrogenic activity of BPA. In assessing environmental exposure to BPA, it is essential to have a sensitive, accurate, and specific analytical method, particularly for low BPA levels in complex sample matrices. In this study, we developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for determining the BPA concentrations in human amniotic fluid (AF). In this method, BPA and the internal standards (13)C(12) -BPA were extracted from 500 μL of human AF using solid-phase extraction. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.3-100 ng/mL for BPA. The analytes were quantitatively determined using LC-MS operated in a negative electrospray ionization selected ion monitoring mode. This validated method has been used successfully in the clinical sample analysis of BPA in second-trimester AF specimens.     

人体血清中的多溴联苯醚、邻苯二甲酸酯和双酚A的连续在线分离及气相色谱-质谱测定

建立了人体血清中多种环境雌激素:多溴联苯醚、邻苯二甲酸酯和双酚A的快速可靠的连续在线分离及在气相色谱-质谱上的分析方法.血清样品经过浓盐酸使蛋白质变性,用乙醚萃取,经硅胶柱分离出多个族组分:多溴联苯醚(Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)、邻苯二甲酸酯(Phthalate estcrs,PAEs)和双酚A(Bisphenol A,BPA),最后由气相色谱-质谱的选择离子检测测定.PBDEs,PAEs和BPA标准曲线回归方程拟合度R2均大于0.99,表明在测试的浓度范围内线性关系良好.PBDEs目标化合物的检出限为0.005～0.048μg/L,PAEs目标化合物的检出限为0.103～0.833μg/L,BPA的检出限是0.035 μg/L.标准样品重复样中,PBDEs的RSD(relative standard deviation)值分别为2.8％～10.9％;PAEs的RSD值为5.6％～9.9％;BPA的RSD值为3.0％.实际血清样品中,PBDEs的加标回收物PCB209(Polychloride diphenyl ether 209)的回收率范围是74.8％～88.5％;PAEs中的加标回收物DBP-D4(Dibutyl phthalateDeutorium 4)的回收率范围为78.7％～97.0％;BPA中的加标回收物BPA-D16( Bisphenol A-Deutorium 16)的回收率范围是76.3％～93.1％.本方法检测血液中多种环境雌激素灵敏度高、重现性和回收率均良好.     

QbD-driven development and validation of HPLC method for determination of Bisphenol A and Bis-sulphone in environmental samples

ABSTRACT

A large number of hazardous chemicals have entered the environment due to the rapid growth of urbanisation and industrial development and are exerting harmful effects on wildlife as well as on human health. Plastic materials are one of the most leading causes for this contamination which are widely used in daily activities of human beings, i.e. disposal purpose, food packaging, bottles, containers, cups, grocery bags, etc. These materials contain Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bis-sulphone (BIS) which have been recognised as potential endocrine disruptors. In the present study, a selective and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based method was developed with the mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer-acetonitrile (58:42 v/v, pH: 5) using quality by design (QbD) approach and the method was validated for the simultaneous assessment of BPA and BIS. The method was observed with a good linearity range of 50–500 ng/mL with an r² value of 0.998 and 0.999 for BPA and BIS, respectively. The developed and validated method was applied for the estimation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in sewage water and soil samples. The results showed a considerable amount of BPA and BIS in the samples. This preliminary data explored the presence of BPA and BIS in these environmental samples that give the primary awareness of the effluence of BPA and BIS in the environment.     

Development of a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bisphenol A in serum

4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol, bisphenol A (BPA), was derivatized to BPA-carboxymethylether (BPA-CME), BPA-carboxypropylether (BPA-CPE) and BPA-carboxybutylether (BPA-CBE), and then linked to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The BPA-BSA conjugates were injected into female New Zealand White rabbits, which then generated six kinds of polyclonal antibodies. In addition, BPA and bisphenol B (BPB)-enzyme conjugates were derivatized to BPA-CME, BPA-CPE, BPA-CBE, BPA-carboxyphenylether (CPhE) and BPB-CPE, and then linked to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and the specificity of the antibodies was confirmed by comparison with pre-immune serum and by competitive assays using different dilutions of BPA standards. Although anti-BPA antibodies cross-reacted with BPB by more than 13.6% at all dilutions used, cross-reaction with phthalates and phenols occurred only less than 0.1%. The combination with the highest sensitivity was obtained using anti-BPA-CME-BSA antibody and BPA-CPhE-HRP conjugate. ELISA successfully detected BPA in human serum at concentrations as low as 0.3 ng mL(-1), and over a measurable range of 0.3-100 ng mL(-1). Recovery tests were carried out by adding BPA to three kinds of human serum, and ranged from 89.7 to 97.3%, from 85.4 to 94.9% and from 81.9 to 97.4%, respectively. The correlation between the results from ELISA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for BPA in spiked serum was r2 = 0.990, indicating that the proposed method is a potential tool for screening a large number of human serum samples.     

Analytical methods for the determination of mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives in human and environmental exposure sources and biological fluids. A review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous in humans and the environment. Its potential adverse effects through genomic and non-genomic pathways have fostered BPA replacement by bisphenol analogs that, unfortunately, exert similar adverse effects. Many of these analogs, as well as their derivatives, have already found in humans and the environment and major concerns have arisen over their low dose- and mixture-related effects. This review aims to discuss the characteristics of the main analytical methods reported so far for the determination of mixtures of bisphenol analogs and/or derivatives in human and environmental exposure sources and biological fluids. Approaches followed for removal of background contamination, sample preparation and separation and detection of mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives are critically discussed. Sample treatment is matrix-dependent and common steps include analyte isolation, removal of interferences, evaporation of the extracts and solvent reconstitution. Separation and quantification has been almost exclusively carried out by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), in the last case prior derivatization, but LC-fluorescence detection has also found some applications. Main characteristics, advantages and drawbacks of these methods will be comparatively discussed. Although at an early stage, some approaches for the assessment of the risk to mixtures of bisphenols, mainly based on the combination of chemical target analysis and toxicity evaluation, have been already applied and they will be here presented. Current knowledge gaps hindering a reliable assessment of human and environmental risk to mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives will be outlined.     

Liquid phase microextraction with in situ derivatization for measurement of bisphenol A in river water sample by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new method that involves liquid phase microextraction (LPME) with in situ derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is described for the determination of trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) in river water samples. The LPME conditions, such as the type of extraction solvent and the extraction time, are investigated. Then, the extract is directly injected into GC-MS. The detection limit and the quantification limit of BPA in river water sample are 2 and 10pgml(-1) (ppt), respectively. The calibration curve for BPA is linear with a correlation coefficient of >0.999 in the range of 10-10,000pgml(-1). The average recoveries of BPA in river water samples spiked with 100 and 1000pgml(-1) BPA are 104.1 (RSD: 8.9%) and 98.3 (RSD: 3.2%), respectively, with correction using the added surrogate standard, bisphenol A-(13)C(12). This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective analytical method may be applicable to the determination of trace amounts of BPA in liquid samples.     

Determination of endocrine-disrupting phenols, acidic pharmaceuticals, and personal-care products in sewage by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The occurrence, fate, and effects of phenols with endocrine-disrupting properties as well as some pharmaceuticals and personal-care products in the environment have frequently been discussed in recent literature. In many cases, these compounds were determined by using individual methods which can be time-consuming if results for multiple parameters are required. Using a solid-phase extraction procedure with an anion exchanger in this work, we have developed and optimized a multi-residue method for the extraction of 21 phenols and acids in sewage influent and effluent. The phenols and acids were then selectively eluted in separate fractions and were converted into pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) and tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives, respectively, for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC/MS) determination. When applied to the sewage samples under study, the results for nonylphenol, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), 17ss-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), salicylic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and a few other acidic drugs were consistent with those determined previously by individual methods. Using the same procedure, we also report, for the first time, the occurrence of 2-phenylphenol and parabens in those sewage samples.     

A simple approach for ultrasensitive detection of bisphenols by multiplexed surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Bisphenol A (BPA) is well known for its use in plastic manufacture and thermal paper production despite its risk of health toxicity as an endocrine disruptor in humans. Since the publication of new legislation regarding the use of BPA, manufacturers have begun to replace BPA with other phenolic molecules such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol B (BPB), but there are no guarantees regarding the health safety of these compounds at this time. In this context, a very simple, cheap and fast surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method was developed for the sensitive detection of these molecules in spiked tap water solutions. Silver nanoparticles were used as SERS substrates. An original strategy was employed to circumvent the issue of the affinity of bisphenols for metallic surfaces and the silver nanoparticles surface was functionalized using pyridine in order to improve again the sensitivity of the detection. Semi-quantitative detections were performed in tap water solutions at a concentrations range from 0.25 to 20 μg L⁻¹ for BPA and BPB and from 5 to 100 μg L⁻¹ for BPF. Moreover, a feasibility study for performing a multiplex-SERS detection of these molecules was also performed before successfully implementing the developed SERS method on real samples.     

Chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for the analysis of phenethylamine [corrected] alkaloids in Citrus aurantium

Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) is a plant belonging to the family Rutaceae, whose fruit extracts have been used recently for the treatment of obesity. The most important biologically active constituents of the C. aurantium fruits are phenethylamine alkaloids (i.e. octopamine, synephrine, tyramine, N-methyltyramine and hordenine). Synephrine is a primary synthesis compound with pharmacological activities such as vasoconstriction, elevation of blood pressure and relaxation of bronchial muscle. Synephrine is present in the peel and the edible part of Citrus fruit. Of the adrenergic amines of natural origin, synephrine has been found to be the main constituent of C. aurantium fruits and extracts; the other alkaloids are either absent or present in only low concentrations. It is known that synephrine and the other amines found in C. aurantium have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, owing to adrenergic stimulation. In light of the great commercial proliferation of C. aurantium herbal medicines in recent years, this review provides an overview of various extraction, separation and detection techniques employed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the alkaloids in C. aurantium and related species. The application of chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for the separation and determination of these active components in C. aurantium plant material and derivatives are described. Since synephrine is a chiral compound, enantioselective chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques for the analysis of synephrine enantiomers in natural products are presented. Furthermore, examples of identification of these active compounds in complex matrices by hyphenated methods, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, are described. The advantages and limitations of these separation and identification methods are assessed and discussed.     

Development and validation of an HPLC method for the determination of endocrine disruptors bisphenol A and benzophenone in thermochromic printing inks

The endocrine disruptors bisphenol A (BPA) and benzophenone (BFN) could be important ingredients in thermochromic printing inks in significant amounts. Due to patent protection and use of the inks, manufacturers are not obliged to state their precise chemical composition. These substances in increasingly used thermochromic printing inks present a hazard for human health and environment in the case of inappropriate application and waste disposal. In this work we enabled identification of the inks that contain these hazardous substances by developing a new method for the analysis of BPA and BFN in thermochromic printing inks. The method is based on the reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) with UV detection at 226 and 254?nm. Ultrasound-assisted sample extraction in methanol was proven to be the most suitable and effective among several other solvents. The method was completely validated with satisfactory results. The specificity of the method was proven by the additional LC–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A representative group of 15 ink samples from various manufacturers, curing and printing modes was analyzed. BPA was found in three samples with mass fractions of about 2% while BFN was found in two samples with mass fractions of 0.34 and 0.66%.     

4-二羟基硼苯丙氨酸(BPA)及其多羟基衍生物BPA(OH)n(n=1,2,4)的电子结构的理论研究

使用密度泛函方法对硼中子捕获疗法药物4-二羟基硼苯丙氨酸(BPA)及其多羟基衍生物BPA(OH)和BPA(OH)2, BPA(OH)4的电子结构进行了理论计算, 探讨了BPA药物作用的可能机制及其羟基衍生物具有良好水溶性的主要因素. 研究结果表明, BPA的HOMO主要分布在苯环上, 而BPA(OH), BPA(OH)2和BPA(OH)4的HOMO主要位于多羟基基团与BPA母体的结合部位的C, N和O原子附近, 羟基衍生物的这种HOMO轨道特性、 结构中极性基团数量的增多及分子极性的增大等可能是它们具有良好水溶性的主要因素. 计算结果与实验结果一致.     

双酚A葡萄糖醛酸苷的高效制备

采用鼠肝微粒体(RLM)生物转化法,利用正交实验在体外实现了双酚A(BPA)向双酚A葡萄糖醛酸苷(BPA-G)的高效转化,同时借助新型色谱分离材料C18WAX及固相萃取技术实现了BPA-G的高效富集与纯化,并对产物进行了结构表征.     

Quantitative determination of free and total bisphenol A in human urine using labeled BPA glucuronide and isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastic bottles, food and beverage can linings, thermal receipts, and dental sealants. Animal and human studies suggest that BPA may disrupt normal hormonal function and hence, potentially, have negative effects on the human health. While total BPA is frequently reported, it is recognized that free BPA is the biologically active form and is rarely reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive and improved method for the measurement of free and total BPA in human urine. Use of a labeled conjugated BPA (bisphenol A-d6 β-d-glucuronide) allowed for the optimization of the enzymatic reaction and permitted an accurate determination of the conjugated BPA concentration in urine samples. In addition, a ¹³C₁₂-BPA internal standard was used to account for the analytical recoveries and performance of the isotope dilution method. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with derivatization and analysis using a triple quadrupole GC-EI/MS/MS system achieved very low method detection limit of 0.027 ng/mL. BPA concentrations were measured in urine samples collected during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in 36 Canadian women. Total maternal BPA concentrations in urine samples ranged from not detected to 9.40 ng/mL (median, 1.21 ng/mL), and free BPA concentrations ranged from not detected to 0.950 ng/mL (median, 0.185 ng/mL). Eighty-six percent of the women had detectable levels of conjugated BPA, whereas only 22 % had detectable levels of free BPA in their urine. BPA levels measured in this study agreed well with data reported internationally.     

保健食品中违禁药物检验技术研究进展

保健食品是适用于特定人群、具有调节作用、不以治疗疾病为目的的食品。随着人们生活水平的提高和对健康的追求，保健食品市场日益增大。目前，制售假冒伪劣保健产品、虚假宣传保健食品功效和欺诈式销售产品是制约保健食品产业可持续发展的主要因素。尤其是保健食品中违禁药物的非法添加，使保健食品的食用安全存在较大隐患，严重降低消费者的信心。对保健食品违禁添加的药物进行有效监管，对保护消费者权益具有十分重要的意义。该综述以与保健功能声称相关的药物药理作用为溯源基础，系统梳理了保健食品中可能非法添加的违禁药物种类，重点介绍常见的8类保健食品违禁药物检测技术进展，包括液相色谱法、液相色谱-质谱法、直接实时分析质谱法、气相色谱-质谱法、核磁共振波谱法、红外光谱法、高分辨质谱法等，以期为保健食品违禁药物检测标准的研制和日常监测提供参考，同时对保健食品中违禁药物添加的趋势和检验技术发展进行了简单展望。     

Application of multivariate analysis to the screening of molecularly imprinted polymers for bisphenol A

A key issue in the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) is the identification and optimisation of the main factors that affect the material structure and its molecular recognition properties. This paper describes the application of an experimental design and multivariate analysis method for the synthesis of bisphenol A (BPA)-selective MIPs. Six factors with a large impact on the MIP synthesis and its analytical performance have been optimised: the amount of template, the type and the percentage of functional and cross-linking monomers, the polymerisation method (i.e. thermal or UV initiation) and the porogenic solvent. The polymers have been prepared in small-scale (mini-MIPs) and, after careful removal of the template, their BPA rebinding capacity has been evaluated and related to the MIP composition. Among the two functional monomers tested, namely 4-vinylpyridine (4-vpy) and methacrylic acid (MAA), the former rendered the best selectivity for BPA analysis. The partial least squares (PLS) models revealed that the photoinitiated polymers with a 1:1 ratio of 4-vinylpyridine to cross-linker (EDMA or TRIM) yield the highest specific binding. Such procedure is time and cost effective and can be used as a general tool in the preparation of MIPs for different analytes.     

Migration of pseudoestrogen bisphenol A from various types of paper with thermochromic prints to artificial sweat solutions

Abstract

Thermochromic inks, materials that change color at a certain temperature, are increasingly used on papers and other materials in the areas of design, commercials, and security printing. Pseudo-estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) may be one of their main compounds present in mass fractions of up to several percent. In this work, the mass fractions of BPA in thermochromic prints on seven types of paper were determined. Migration of BPA from the surface of the thermochromic print to artificial sweat solutions was investigated as well. Total amount of BPA in papers with thermochromic prints was determined by an HPLC-UV method with ultrasonic-assisted extraction in methanol developed and validated in this work. Total amount of BPA, which ranged from 0.126 to 0.778?mg/g, was compared with the amounts extracted under the same conditions in two artificial human sweat solutions, which differed in chemical composition, ionic strength, and pH-value. Mass fractions of BPA extracted with artificial sweat solutions were from 0.047 to 0.175?mg/g with respect to the mass of the paper. On average, the mass fraction of BPA was four times less when extracted with artificial sweat solutions than the maximal amount extracted with methanol. The amounts of extracted BPA raise a concern of health risk through dermal exposure to BPA from thermochromic prints on paper.     

Effects of Bisphenol A and Its Alternatives,Bisphenol F and Tetramethyl Bisphenol F on Osteoclast Differentiation

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a typical environmental endocrine disruptor that exhibits estrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties and can cause the collapse of bone homeostasis by an imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Various BPA substitutes, structurally similar to BPA, have been used to manufacture ‘BPA-free’ products; however, the regulatory role of BPA alternatives in osteoclast differentiation still remains unelucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of these chemicals on osteoclast differentiation using the mouse osteoclast precursor cell line RAW 264.7. Results confirmed that both BPA and its alternatives, bisphenol F and tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF), were nontoxic to RAW 264.7 cells. In particular, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cell staining and activity calculation assays revealed that TMBPF enhanced osteoclast differentiation upon stimulation of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL). Additionally, TMBPF activated the mRNA expression of osteoclast-related target genes, such as the nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and cathepsin K (CtsK). Western blotting analysis indicated activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, including phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38. Together, the results suggest that TMBPF enhances osteoclast differentiation, and it is critical for bone homeostasis and skeletal health.     

Application of ethyl chloroformate derivatization for solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometric determination of bisphenol-A in water and milk samples

A simple and rapid analytical method based on in-matrix ethyl chloroformate (ECF) derivatization has been developed for the quantitative determination of bisphenol-A (BPA) in milk and water samples. The samples containing BPA were derivatised with ECF in the presence of pyridine for 20 s at room temperature, and the non-polar derivative thus formed was extracted using polydimethylsiloxane solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres with thicknesses of 100 μm followed by analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three alkyl chloroformates (methyl, ethyl and isobutyl chloroformate) were tested for optimum derivatisation yields, and ECF has been found to be optimum for the derivatisation of BPA. Several parameters such as amount of ECF, pyridine and reaction time as well as SPME parameters were studied and optimised in the present work. The limit of detection for BPA in milk and water samples was found to be 0.1 and 0.01 μg L(-1), respectively, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. The limit of quantitation for BPA in milk and water was found to be 0.38 and 0.052 μg L(-1), respectively, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10:1. In conclusion, the method developed was found to be rapid, reliable and cost-effective in comparison to silylation and highly suitable for the routine analysis of BPA by various food and environmental laboratories.     

Monitoring three typical phenol endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water of Suzhou urban area – from raw water to tap water

In this work, three typical phenol endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), namely Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4-tert-octyphenol (4-t-OP), were detected in water samples from the whole drinking water supply chain of seven water plants at three hydrographic periods in Suzhou, China. Almost all of the drinking water in urban area of Suzhou city is provided by the seven water plants. Every link of drinking water supply, including raw water, finished water and tap water were monitored. The results indicated that BPA and 4-NP were detected in all samples with the concentration of 0.067–0.118 μg L^?1 and 0.111–0.350 μg L^?1, respectively, while 4-t-OP could be detected in only a few raw water samples with the concentration lower than its limit of quantitation (LOQ). The levels of BPA and 4-NP in raw water were significantly different among three hydrographic periods and the highest concentration can be observed in dry period. The difference in removal efficiency of BPA and 4-NP in seven water plants was also observed among three hydrographic periods, e.g. relative higher in dry period for BPA and in flow period for 4-NP. Potential risk assessment hinted that BPA and 4-NP in raw water showed a low to medium and a medium to high risk respectively to aquatic environment, while in tap water, the health risk from BPA and 4-NP could be ignored on human.     

Development and validation of an LC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous quantitative analysis of free and conjugated bisphenol A in human urine

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental endocrine‐disrupting chemicals that is widely used in common consumer products. There is an increasing concern regarding human exposure to BPA owing to the potential adverse effects associated with its estrogenic activity. For assessing environmental exposure to BPA, it is essential to have a sensitive, accurate and selective analytical method, especially one that can detect low BPA levels in complex sample matrices. In this study, we developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantification of free BPA and BPA β‐d ‐glucuronide (BPA‐gluc) concentrations in human urine with only a single injection. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 1–100 ng/mL for BPA and 10–1000 ng/mL for BPA‐gluc. The levels of the analytes were determined quantitatively with HPLC/ESI‐MS/MS by using negative electrospray ionization in the select ion monitoring mode and a pentaflouraphenyl propyl column. The validated method was applied to the analysis of spot urine specimens collected from randomly selected healthy human subjects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.