Simultaneous determination of organochlorine pesticides and bisphenol A in edible marine biota by GC–MS

A study to assess the level of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and bisphenol A (BPA) in edible marine biota collected from coastal waters of Malaysia was conducted using GC–MS and SPE extraction. An analytical method was developed and validated to measure the level of 15 OCPs and BPA simultaneously from five selected marine species. It was observed that some samples had low levels of p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT and p,p′- DDD ranging from 0.50 ng g−1 to 22.49 ng g−1 dry weight (d.w) but significantly elevated level of endosulfan I was detected in a stingray sample at 2880 ng g−1 d.w. BPA was detected in 31 out of 57 samples with concentration ranging from below quantification level (LOQ: 3 ng g−1) to 729 ng g−1 d.w. The presence of OCPs is most likely from past use although there is also indication of illegal use in recent times. The study also reveals that BPA is more widely distributed in coastal species caught off the coast of the most developed state. The potential health risk from dietary intakes of OCPs and BPA from the analysed fish species was negligible.

► Fifteen organochlorine pesticides and bisphenol A were studied in marine biota collected in Malaysia.
► Simultaneous sample extraction was carried out using solid phase and liquid–liquid extraction.
► Only DDTs and endosulfan I were detected in some of the samples.
► Bisphenol A was detected in more than 50% of the samples.