Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in marine fish samples by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a typical group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which have been listed under Annex A (Elimination) and C (Unintentional production) the Stockholm Convention. In this study, gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed applied to analyze concentrations 28 PCB congeners in some Vietnamese marine fish samples. PCBs samples were ultrasonically extracted with an acetone/n-hexane (1/1, v/v) mixture. The extracts cleaned up by using multilayer silica gel columns dichloromethane/n-hexane as elution solvent. separated on DB-5MS column quantified triple quadrupole spectrometer. MS detector operated positive electron impact ionization (EI) mode selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. Calibration curves exhibited good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9998). Instrument detection limits (IDLs) (MDLs) ranged from 0.08 0.023 ng/mL 0.07 1.84 ng/g, respectively. Recoveries native 7 labeled standards matrix-spike 62.3 88.1% 75.5 91.9%, satisfying criteria proposed AOAC (recovery 60-115% for 10-100 ppb levels). validated 10 samples, showing levels ∑28PCBs 17 851 (mean 230) ng/g lipid. sum 6in-PCBs (PCB-28; -52; -101; -138; -153; -180) based wet weight (w/w) 1.24 3.15 is lower than maximum level recommended European Union (75 (w/w). Congeners PCB-126 PCB-169 not detected