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A step forward using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) based extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry—levels of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wild and commercial mussels

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Abstract

A new and fully validated QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry methodology was developed and subsequently implemented for the quantification of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wild (from Matosinhos Beach, Portugal) and commercial (from Ria de Arousa, Spain) mussels. The method proved to be robust, precise, and accurate, with recoveries ranging from 89.2 to 111.8 %. Total sums of 16 PAHs were 52.91 and 37.58 ng/g of wet weight for wild and commercial specimens, respectively. The three- to four-ring PAHs were the most abundant, and a mixture of petrogenic and pyrolytic sources were suspected to occur in both origin areas. Although the contamination levels were below the European regulated limits, specifically for commercial mussels (this despite wild specimens are also consumed), care should be taken in terms of human health, since we are still not aware of the low-dose versus long-term effects, even more in high-risk population groups.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by CESPU Project ref. 01-GCQF-CICS-10, ERDF-European Regional Development Fund, through the COMPETE-Operational Competitiveness Programme (COMPETE), and national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) by the project “PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013”. Additional support was also given by the Master of Marine Sciences–Marine Resources (ICBAS-U.Porto).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Tânia Vieira Madureira, Susana Velhote, Cláudia Santos, Catarina Cruzeiro, Eduardo Rocha & Maria João Rocha

  2. Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    Tânia Vieira Madureira, Susana Velhote, Cláudia Santos, Catarina Cruzeiro, Eduardo Rocha & Maria João Rocha

  3. Superior Institute of Health Sciences-North (ISCS-N), CESPU, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116, Gandra, Paredes, Portugal

    Maria João Rocha

Authors
  1. Tânia Vieira Madureira
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  2. Susana Velhote
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  3. Cláudia Santos
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  4. Catarina Cruzeiro
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  5. Eduardo Rocha
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  6. Maria João Rocha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria João Rocha.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Tânia Vieira Madureira and Susana Velhote contributed equally to this study.

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Madureira, T.V., Velhote, S., Santos, C. et al. A step forward using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) based extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry—levels of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wild and commercial mussels. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 6089–6098 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2510-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2510-y

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