Comprehensive analysis of contaminants in Brazilian infant formulas: Application of QuEChERS coupled with UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS and suspect screening-unknown analysis by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS

Author(s)

Galindo, Marcella Vitoria ; Lopez-Ruiz, Rosalia ; Oliveira, Wellington da Silva ; Godoy, Helena Teixeira ; Frenich, Antonia Garrido ; Romero-Gonzalez, Roberto

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Chromatography A; v. 1726, p. 12-pg., 2024-05-14.

Abstract

Infant formulas (IF) can contain harmful chemical substances, such as pesticides and mycotoxins, resulting from the contamination of raw materials and inputs used in the production chain, which can cause adverse effects to infants. Therefore, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) methodology prior ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPL-QqQ-MS/MS) analysis was applied for the determination of 23 contaminants, in 30 samples of Brazilian IF. The method was validated in terms of limit of detection (0.2 to 0.4 mu g/kg), limits of quantification (1 and 10 mu g/kg), and recovery (64 % to 122 %); precision values, in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), were <= 20 %. Fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, and bifenthrin were the pesticides detected in the samples, but the values did not exceed the limit set by the European Union (EU), and ANVISA, and they were detected under their limits of quantification. Additionally, suspect screening and unknown analysis were conducted to tentatively identify 32 substances, including some compounds not covered in this study, such as pesticides, hormones, and veterinary drugs. Carbofuran was identified, confirmed and quantified in 10 % of the samples. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/02153-5 - Incidence of bisphenol A, benzophenones and polycyclic aromatic hidrocarbons in human milk: an exploratory study
• Grantee: Marcella Vitoria Galindo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 22/06633-4 - Development of a multi-residue method for the simultaneous detection of pesticides and mycotoxins in infant formulae
• Grantee: Marcella Vitoria Galindo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate