Novel method for simultaneous analysis of endocrine disruptors and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to ambient fine particulate matter

Identifying the Issue

Inhalation exposure to endocrine disruptors (Phthalic acid esters (PAEs)) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with serious health effects. However, the available methods for the analysis of PAEs and PAHs are time consuming methods based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. There is a need for a robust analytical method for the simultaneous determination of PAEs and PAHs.

Objective of the Research

• Develop a simple and robust analytical method for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the state-of-the-art technique liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
• Deploy the developed method for the analysis of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient PM2.5 samples collected at the suburban city of North West Indo-Gangetic Plain (N.W.IGP) in different seasons of the year
• Identify the sources of PAHs at the sampling site using diagnostic ratios
• Estimate the health risk associated due to the inhalation exposure to fine particulate matter bound PAEs and PAHs for the children and adults at the sampling site

Who should read this?

It is applicable to all the scientific and social community researchers as this work highlights health risk associated with the inhalation exposure to PAEs and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter. Anyone who works in the Atmospheric and Analytical chemistry.

Solution

Liquid chromatography coupled electrospray ionization source mass spectrometry is a robust, sensitive and high performance analytical technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic composition from a sample. However, to the best of our knowledge there are no methods for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors (PAEs) and PAHs using LC-MS/MS. In the present study, we had optimized a novel LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter. In this method, we report the quantification of targeted compounds faster than the earlier reported gas chromatography – mass spectrometry methods with better sensitivity for benzyl butyl phthalate (0.03 ng m-3) and di-butyl phthalate (0.33 ng m-3). This method has been deployed for the analysis for the endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter samples collected at IISER Mohali in North West Indo-Gangetic plain.

Key Features and Benefits

• LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to PM2.5.
• The higher concentrations of endocrine disruptors observed in summer season whereas PAHs in winter.
• DEHP and B[b]F are the most abundant endocrine disruptor and PAH, respectively at the sampling site
• B[a]P is higher in concentrations than the NAAQS standards (1 ng m−3), India.
• ILCR values for B[a]Peq exceeded the threshold limits set by USEPA

Impact

This work presents the novel method for the simultaneous analysis of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The reported results suggest that benzo (a) pyrene (B[a]P) (Group 1 Carcinogen) exceeded the threshold limits set by National Ambient Air Quality Standards, India. This study shows that exposure to PAEs and PAHs bound to PM2.5 should be of concern at the sampling site.

Team

• Patnana Durga Prasad, Department of Chemistry, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL
• Dr B Praphulla Chandra, Department of Chemistry, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL
• Pooja Chaudhary, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali
• Dr Baerbel Sinha, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali
• Dr Vinayak Sinha, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali

Paper Published in: Atmospheric Environment (Elsevier)

Title of paper: Optimized LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to PM2.5: Sources and health risk in Indo-Gangetic Plain

Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119363