Analyses of lindane, vinclozolin, aldrin, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT in human serum using gas chromatography with electron capture detection and tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive, selective and reliable procedure was developed and validated to determine organochlorinated compounds, which present endocrine-disrupting effects, lindane, vinclozolin, aldrin, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE, in human serum. The analytical methodology combines serum extraction with organic solvents, clean-up of the organic extract using acid treatment with H2SO4, elution of the cleaned-up extract through liquid column chromatography system and analysis of the fraction eluted by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS–MS) detection mode. Performance characteristics, such as linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy or recovery, of both chromatographic methods were studied. The proposed analytical methodology was applied to analyse the target compounds in serum samples from women living in agricultural areas of Almerı́a (Spain). Comparison of the MS–MS and the ECD results was made and the advantage of the MS–MS operation mode to determine endocrine disrupting compounds in complex matrices is also presented.