Quantitative analysis of novel brominated flame retardants using multilayer silica/Florisil purification coupled with GC–MS/MS and assessment of their levels in vegetables by plant parts

초록

Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are increasingly replacing legacy brominated flame retardants, raising concerns about human exposure through dietary intake; however, exposure through agricultural products remains understudied. In this study, we developed and validated a robust analytical method using multilayer silica/Florisil column cleanup coupled with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The method was optimized to detect 12 NBFRs in agricultural products with varying moisture levels and starch contents. Specifically, the simultaneous quantification of 12 NBFRs using the validated method was performed across diverse agricultural matrices. We analyzed 294 agricultural samples representing 42 food types, categorized by the edible plant part. Plant parts grown aboveground, such as leaves and fruits, contained approximately 4.7–13.9-fold higher NBFR levels than those grown underground or protected by husks, such as tubers and grains. These results provide novel insights into the transport and fate of NBFRs in agricultural systems, offering essential data for accurate human-health risk assessments and postharvest contamination monitoring.

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