Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human serum by gas chromatography - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants that are added to a wide range of consumer products. Due to their extensive use in the past, their presence has been documented in multiple environmental compartments and living organisms, including humans. To assess the exposure of humans to PBDEs, a new simple, reliable, and sensitive method was developed for the determination of six PBDE congeners (BDE 28, BDE 47, BDE 99, BDE 100, BDE 153, BDE 154) in human serum by gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICP-MS). The PBDEs were extracted from 1 mL ofserum by 30 min of mechanical shaking with formic acid. Subsequently, 2 mL of iso-octane was added and 30 min of mechanical shaking was applied. For clean-up of the extract Florisil column was applied. The analytical method was validated by analysis of human serum standard reference materials SRM 1957 (Non-Fortified Human Serum) and SRM 1958 (Fortified Human Serum). Good agreement of the determined concentrations with those certified was found. The repeatability and reproducibility of the analytical method was within 5.9% and 6.1%, respectively, whereas the limits of detection (LODs) for the PBDEs analysed were between 0.0016 and 0.0039 ng mL−1 wet weight (ww). The feasibility of the method was tested by analysing human serum samples. In this study, the determined concentrations in sera were in a range similar to that of as those reported for certain other European countries.