Identification of an analytical method interference for perfluorobutanoic acid in biological samples

Published

December 31, 2021

Author(s)

Jacqueline Bangma, Jessica Reiner, Rebecca Fry, Tracey Manuck, James McCord, Mark Strynar

Abstract

The investigation of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental and biological samples relies on both high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. While high-resolution MS (HRMS) can be used for identification and quantification of novel compounds, low-resolution MS is the more wide-spread and affordable approach for studies examining previously identified PFAS. Of note, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) is one of the smaller PFAS observed in biological and environmental samples and has only one major MS/MS transition, preventing the use of qualitative transitions for verification. Recently, our laboratories undertook a targeted investigation into PFAS in the human placenta from high-risk pregnancies utilizing low-resolution, targeted MS/MS. Examination of placental samples revealed a widespread (n = 93/122) chemical interferent in the quantitative ion channel for PFBA (213→169). PFBA concentrations were influenced by up to 3 ng/g. Therefore, HRMS/MS techniques were used to investigate the suspect peak, and putatively assign the interfering compound as the saturated oxo-fatty acid (SOFA) 3-oxo-dodecanoic acid.

Citation

Environmental Science and Technology Letters

Issue

8

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00901

Local Download

Keywords

PFAS, PFBA, placenta, Mass Spectrometry

Citation

Bangma, J. , Reiner, J. , Fry, R. , Manuck, T. , McCord, J. and Strynar, M. (2021), Identification of an analytical method interference for perfluorobutanoic acid in biological samples, Environmental Science and Technology Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00901, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=933570 (Accessed February 13, 2025)