Development of a rapid screening method to determine primary aromatic amines in kitchen utensils using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS)

Abstract

Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are a group of substances with undesirable health effects, that are used in a variety of commercial products. Several recent studies, using a number of screening and confirmatory methods, have reported the migration of PAAs from some kitchen utensils into acetic acid 3% (w/v). Many of these methods require significant sample preparation, therefore the aim of this work was to determine if direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) could be utilised as a rapid screening tool for the determination of PAAs in kitchen utensils. DART-MS results from direct analysis of the utensil have been compared with results of PAA migration by ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. The UPLC-MS/MS method had excellent linearity, appropriate sensitivity (LOD ≤ 1.5 µg L⁻¹; LOQ ≤ 4.5 µg L⁻¹), repeatability from 2.4 to 13.2% and acceptable recoveries. DART-MS results were in good agreement with UPLC-MS/MS data, with 100% of non-compliant (PAA positive) samples successfully identified by DART-MS.

Keywords:

• primary aromatic amines
• direct analysis in real time (DART)
• screening method
• UPLC-MS/MS
• kitchen utensils

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” through the Predoctoral fellowship FPI (ref. BES-2009-023016) awarded to R. Paseiro-Cerrato.