A method to determine BPA, BPB, and BPF levels in fruit juices by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

The monitoring of the contamination levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and its congeners bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol F (BPF) in foodstuffs is a necessary process for assessment of consumers' risk. After development and validation of a method using Strata® C18-E cartridge cleanup with detection by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, forty-six samples of fruit juices, sold on Italian markets, have been analysed to assess the concentration of BPA, BPB and BPF. BPB and BPF were not detected in any samples, BPA was found in 33 % of the samples. The observed levels ranged from 0.50 ng mL-1 to 2.85 ng mL-1. Potential Daily Intakes (PDI) of BPA for Italian populations were calculated by the budget method model. PDIs ranged from 0.012 to 0.285 µg kg-1 bw day-1. None of the calculated values exceeded the current temporary TDI of 4 µg kg-1 bw day-1.

Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S release in milk under household conditions from baby bottles marketed in Italy.

A simple and sensitive validated analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem fluorescence (FD) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry was applied to monitor the presence of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in plastic baby bottles marketed in Italy. The limits of detection (LOD) were 3.75 ng mL-1 and 80.00 ng mL-1, and those of quantification (LOQ) were 12.51 ng mL-1 and 260.00 ng mL-1 for BPA (FD detection) and for BPS (UV detection), respectively. BPA was found in only four samples, two samples undergone to microwave heating and two samples undergone to bottle warmer heating either at 40°C or at 80°C. Although the quantities of leached BPA were well below the reference dose for daily intake established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (4.0 µg kg-1 bw/day), the release of BPA and BPS from these plastic materials should be carefully considered by the government authorities to increase people's awareness on this issue and to protect the most vulnerable population group.

Monitoring of bisphenols in canned tuna from Italian markets.

Monitoring of food contamination from bisphenols is a necessary process for the consumers' risk assessment. A method for the quali-quantitative analysis of Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), and Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether (BFDGE), by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD), was performed and validated for their determination in 33 samples of tuna fish, canned in either oil or aqueous medium. Samples were collected in Italian markets. Tuna and the correspondent preservation medium were analyzed separately. Detected levels of bisphenols ranged from 19.1 to 187.0 ng/g in tuna matrix and from 6.3 to 66.9 ng/mL in oil medium. No bisphenols were found in aqueous medium. At least one of the analytes was found in 83% of the tuna samples in oil medium, whereas tuna samples in aqueous medium showed BPA alone in 67% of samples. 21% of the oil medium samples resulted positive for at least one bisphenol. On the basis of measured concentrations and general daily ingestion rate of canned tuna fish, the probable daily intake of BPA for Italian population was calculated.

Occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins and their dietary intake through beer consumption by the European population.

Since cereals are raw materials for production of beer and beer-based drinks, the occurrence mycotoxins in 154 beer samples was topic of investigation in this study. The analyses were conducted using QuEChERS extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination. The analytical method showed recoveries for vast majority of analytes ranged from 70% to 110%, relative standard deviations lower than 15% and limits of detection from 0.05 to 8 µg/L. A significant incidence of HT-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON) were found in 9.1% and 59.7% of total samples, respectively. The exposure of European population to mycotoxins through beer consumption was assessed. No toxicological concern was associated to mycotoxins exposure for average beer consumers. Despite that, for heavy beer drinkers, the contribution of this commodity to the daily intake is not negligible, approaching or even exceeding the safety levels.