Determination of plasticisers and BPA in Sicilian and Calabrian nectar honeys by selected ion monitoring GC/MS

• Published in: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. 1693 - 1699
• Main Authors: Lo Turco, Vincenzo, Di Bella, Giuseppa, Potortì, Angela Giorgia, Tropea, Alessia, Casale, Ermina Katia, Fede, Maria Rita, Dugo, Giacomo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.11.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Bisphenol A; Chromatography; Food Contamination - analysis; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Honey; Honey - analysis; Ions - analysis; Italy; Mass spectrometry; Phenols - analysis; Plant Nectar - chemistry; plasticisers; Plasticizers - analysis; SIM GC-MS; Honey; bisphenol A; plasticisers; SIM GC-MS
• ISSN: 1944-0049; 1944-0057
• DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2016.1239030

Twenty-six plasticisers and bisphenol A (BPA) in 39 Sicilian and Calabrian nectar honeys of different botanical south Italian origin were determined by GC-MS. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate was the most abundant plasticiser in all samples, reaching up 202.7 ± 153.1 µg kg -1 , followed by di-butylphthalate with a concentration of 40.3 ± 9.3 µg kg -1 , whereas the concentration of the other phthalates varied from not detectable to 68.2 µg kg -1 . Trace levels of adipate, sebacate and BPA were not detected in any samples. Among the different floral origin honeys, di-ethylphthalate levels were above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in orange blossom, wildflower and chestnut honey samples. Among the honeys of different geographical origin, di-methylphthalate, di-butylphthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate concentrations were similar. Calabrian honeys showed levels of di-ethylphthalate always lower than the LOQ, moreover di-(2-methylpropyl)phthalate levels were lower than the Sicilian ones. On the contrary, in Sicilian honeys di-(2-methylpropyl)phthalate levels were higher and di-ethylphthalate was present in 37% of samples.