A multi-residue method for the analysis of organic pollutants released from atmospheric PM2.5 in simulated biological fluids: Inhalation bioaccessibility and bioavailability estimation

Joel Sánchez-Piñero; Natalia Novo-Quiza; Jorge Moreda-Piñeiro; Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo; Purificación López-Mahía

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2023.341862

A multi-residue method for the analysis of organic pollutants released from atmospheric PM_2.5 in simulated biological fluids: Inhalation bioaccessibility and bioavailability estimation

Anal Chim Acta. 2023 Nov 1:1280:341862. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341862. Epub 2023 Sep 30.

Authors

Joel Sánchez-Piñero¹, Natalia Novo-Quiza², Jorge Moreda-Piñeiro², Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo², Purificación López-Mahía²

Affiliations

¹ University of A Coruña, Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), University Institute of Research in Environmental Studies (IUMA), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de A Coruña, s/n. 15071, A Coruña, Spain. Electronic address: joel.sanchez@udc.es.
² University of A Coruña, Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), University Institute of Research in Environmental Studies (IUMA), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de A Coruña, s/n. 15071, A Coruña, Spain.

PMID: 37858566
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341862

Abstract

Background: In recent decades, there has been a growing interest within the scientific community regarding the study of the fraction that could be released in simulated biological fluids to estimate in vitro bioaccessibility and bioavailability of compounds. Concerning particulate matter (PM), studies were essentially focused on metal (oid)s probably due to more complex methodologies needed for organic compounds, requiring extraction and pre-concentration steps from simulated fluids, followed by chromatographic analysis. Thus, the development of a simple and sensitive methodology for the analysis of multi-class organic compounds released in different inhalation simulated fluids would represent a great contribution to the field.

Results: In this work, a methodology for the analysis of 49 organic pollutants, including 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 phthalate esters (PAEs), 11 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), 6 synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) and 2 bisphenols released in simulated fluids from PM_2.5 samples was developed. After a physiologically based extraction test (PBET) by using artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and a simulated body fluid (SBF, filling a dialysis membrane) to obtain in vitro inhalation bioaccessible and bioavailable fractions, respectively; compounds were determined by a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid extraction (VALLE) and a subsequent analysis by programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PTV-GC-MS/MS). Experimental conditions concerning VALLE extraction (extraction time and amount of NaCl (g)) were optimized by using a central composite design (CCD), best MS/MS transitions were selected and matrix-matched calibration combined with use of labelled subrogate standards provided high sensitivity, minimization of matrix effects and recovering losses compensation.

Significance: The successful validation results obtained for most of the compounds demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for the analysis of multi-class organic pollutants released in ALF and SBF for inhalation bioaccessibility and bioavailability assessment, respectively. Furthermore, applicability of the method was proved by analysing 20 p.m._2.5 samples, being the proposed in vitro PBET dialyzability approach for assessing organic pollutant's inhalation bioavailability applied to PM_2.5 samples for the first time.

Keywords: Inhalation bioaccessibility; Inhalation bioavailability; Multi-residue method; Particulate matter; Simulated biological fluids; Vortex-assisted liquid-liquid extraction.

MeSH terms

Biological Availability
Environmental Pollutants* / analysis
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Particulate Matter / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

Particulate Matter
Environmental Pollutants
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons