Determination of Bisphenol A and its chlorinated derivatives in placental tissue samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The group of compounds commonly called endocrine disruptors covers a wide range of synthetic and natural substances able to alter the normal hormone function of wildlife and humans, consequently causing adverse health effects. Bisphenol A (BPA) and its chlorinated derivatives are some of these compounds. In this work, we propose a new liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method to determine these compounds in human placental tissue samples. The method involves an extraction phase of the extracts from the samples using ethyl acetate, followed by a clean-up phase by centrifugation prior to their quantification by LC–MS/MS using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface in the negative mode. Deuterated Bisphenol A (BPA-d16) was used as internal standard. Found detection limits (DL) ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 ng g−1 and quantification limits (QL) from 0.5 to 2.0 ng g−1 for Bisphenol A and its chlorinated derivatives, while inter- and intra-day variability was under 8.1%. The method was validated using standard addition calibration and a spike recovery assay. Recovery rates for spiked samples ranged from 97% to 105%. This method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of BPA and its chlorinated derivatives in 49 placental tissue samples collected from women who live in the province of Granada (Spain).