Simultaneous LC-MS/MS determination of 40 legal and illegal psychoactive drugs in breast and bovine milk.

Journal: Food chemistry
PMID: 29287357

Abstract

This work presents a fast, sensitive and reliable multi-residue methodology based on fat and protein precipitation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of common legal and illegal psychoactive drugs, and major metabolites, in breast milk. One-fourth of the 40 target analytes is investigated for the first time in this biological matrix. The method was validated in breast milk and also in various types of bovine milk, as tranquilizers are occasionally administered to food-producing animals. Absolute recoveries were satisfactory for 75% of the target analytes. The use of isotopically labeled compounds assisted in correcting analyte losses due to ionization suppression matrix effects (higher in whole milk than in the other investigated milk matrices) and ensured the reliability of the results. Average method limits of quantification ranged between 0.4 and 6.8 ng/mL. Application of the developed method showed the presence of caffeine in breast milk samples (12-179 ng/mL).

Authors

  • Ester López-García
    Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: elgqam@cid.csic.es.
  • Nicola Mastroianni
    Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: nmaqam@cid.csic.es.
  • Cristina Postigo
    Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: cprqam@cid.csic.es.
  • Yolanda Valcárcel
    Research and Teaching Group in Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Tulipán, s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas, s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: yolanda.valcarcel@urjc.es.
  • Silvia González-Alonso
    Research and Teaching Group in Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Tulipán, s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: silvia.alonso@urjc.es.
  • Damia Barceló
    Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, Edifici H2O, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain. Electronic address: dbcqam@cid.csic.es.
  • Miren López de Alda
    Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mlaqam@cid.csic.es.

Keywords

External Resources

Popular Topics
Recent Journals