LC-MS/MS method for the determination of hormones: Validation, application and health risk assessment in various bovine matrices.

A new method, using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the detection of fourteen natural and synthetic hormones in muscles, was validated in other bovine matrices (liver, kidney, bile and hair) according to the Decision Commission 2002/657/EC. As result, this method demonstrates good linearity (R2 > 0.99) as well as accuracy with coefficients of variation for repeatability and reproducibility lower than 23%. Moreover, the values of decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were determined indicating values ranging from 0.13 to 0.86 μg/kg and 0.25-1.72 μg/k for the majority of analytes. Recovery rate in the different matrices varied from 51.5 to 107%. Indeed, this method has been successfully applied to detect anabolic hormones in eighty-eight samples (muscle, liver, kidney, and bile) collected from different local slaughterhouses. Results showed that progesterone was found in 30 samples at concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 11.7 μg/kg, while testosterone was detected in 34 samples at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 9.52 μg/kg. All bile samples contain epi-testosterone at concentration ranging from 0.89 to 280 μg/kg. These obtained data were used to calculate the estimated daily intake, hazard quotient and hazard index as exposure assessment.