Atmospheric pressure gas chromatography with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry for simultaneous detection and quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses

Within the family of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated derivatives are of particular interest in environmental science because they have well-known carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. They are in fact more toxic than their parent PAHs. One valuable diagnosis of atmospheric pollution can be obtained using biomonitors such as mosses. These biomonitors can provide information about air pollution over long periods of time in wilderness areas. Thus, they can serve as monitors of the atmospheric transport of pollutants. In this study, atmospheric pressure gas chromatography coupled to a quadrupole hyphenated to a time of flight mass spectrometer (APGC–MS/Q-TOF) has been examined for the identification of target analytes (15 PAHs and 8 NPAHs) for subsequent use in the analysis of mosses. Working ranges in low μg g−1 concentration levels were obtained with most correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. All LODs were in the 0.007–0.035 μg g−1 range and higher LODs (0.035 μg g−1) were obtained for the less volatile PAHs with higher mass and retention times: benzo(g,h,i)perylene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene. These LODs are of importance for the intended use, biomonitoring, especially taking into account that NPAHs are commonly found at very low concentration levels. Recoveries from mosses ranged from 75 to 98%. Intraday and interday precision ranged from 1.8 to 11.1% RSD and from 2.4 to 16.7% RSD, respectively. Very low concentrations of NPAHs were found in mosses compared to those of PAHs. All these data were used for pattern recognition of the pollutant source. The results are shown and discussed.

► The simultaneous analysis of NPAHs and PAHs in one single run has been achieved by APGC–Q-TOF-MS. ► Very little concentrations of NPAHs were quantified in mosses and these data can be used for pattern recognition of the pollutants. ► Environmental diagnosis can be established taking into account the pathway of PAHs and NPAHs as well as their distribution.