Determination of multiclass personal care products in continental waters by solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A methodology based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous analysis of different families of personal care products (PCPs) including fragrance allergens, synthetic musks, phthalates, antioxidants and UV filters in continental waters. The main parameters affecting SPME procedure were optimized by an ANOVA study. The final selected conditions comprised the use of 10 mL of sample with 20% (w/v) of sodium chloride (NaCl), polydimtehylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber and 20 min of extraction time at 100 °C in the head-space mode. Good linearity (R2>0.9925), quantitative recoveries (>79%), and precision (RSD < 15%) were achieved for all compounds under the optimal conditions. Limits of quantification (LOQs) at the sub and low ng L-1 were obtained. The validated methodology was successfully applied to the analysis of river water samples from the North Portuguese coast allowing the determination of five different families of PCPs, including a total of 43 compounds in a single chromatographic run within 23 min.