A new GC-HRMS method for screening of phthalate esters and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) in atmospheric particles Cristian R. A. Argamino 1,2 , Anna Bogush 1 , Svetlana Stevanovic 2 and Ivan Kourtchev 1 1 Coventry University, UK, 2 Deakin University, Australia Phthalate esters (PAEs) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) are ubiquitous chemicals often used as plasticizers in consumer and industrial products. Scientific evidence has linked these compounds to several human diseases (i.e., reproductive, cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory). Thus, the level of certain PAEs (e.g., di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are regulated in plastic products, toys, drinking water, and water bodies. Meanwhile, other PAEs (e.g., di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP)) are often used as substitutes but were recently added to a list of new and emerging pollutants (NEPs) due to their potential adverse toxic effects. There is growing concern on the occurrence of PAEs in inhalable particles since regulatory bodies have not set limits on their atmospheric levels. PM 2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm), which can be enriched with PAEs, has the potential to elicit multi-system human toxicity as they can reach extrapulmonary tissues like the heart, intestines, and reproductive system through blood circulation. The aim of the work is to develop and validate a sensitive GC-HRMS method that can be used for the targeted screening of regulated PAEs (i.e., DBP, DEHP, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)) including DEHA, and PAEsthat are considered as NEPs (i.e., dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and DOP), in PM 2.5. Gas-chromatography high-resolution mass (GC- HRMS) is commonly used for untargeted analysis but has the potential to be applied for targeted screening of trace pollutants in complex environmental samples. Analytical aspects that are important for implementing this method have been assessed, including the selection of extraction solvents, pre-concentration steps, and GC injector parameters to reduce matrix effects. High sensitivity and selectivity of the method was achieved by optimizing MS/MS parameters including widening the quadrupole isolation window and increasing multiplex count. Method provided good linearity for all analytes (i.e. r 2 >0.99) across a wide linear range (up to 0.5 ng/uL). The method passed the accuracy and precision test across four concentration levels (i.e., within +/- 20 %RE and %CV). The method was successfully applied for the screening of PM 2.5 samples from an urban environment (City of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil) where several PAEs (including those belonging to NEPs) were detected above the LOD.
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© The Author(s), 2023
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