Quantitative analysis and health risk assessment of bisphenols in selected canned foods using the modified QuEChERS method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A QuEChERS-based extraction method, followed by derivatization prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection, was used to determine the presence and levels of bisphenol A and four of its derivatives in canned fish, baked beans and corned beef. The best conditions for derivatization of the five bisphenols were found to be 25°C over 60 min using a multivariate procedure based on central composite design and bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide as the derivatizing agent. Good method validation parameters were observed with recoveries ranging from 80% to 98% at three spiking levels, while method detection and quantitation limits were in the 0.794–3.81 and 2.41–11.5 µg kg⁻¹ range, respectively. Bisphenol A was detected in all food categories (16.5–191 µg kg⁻¹) while bisphenol B was detected in baked beans only with concentration ranges of 15.4–49.2 µg kg⁻¹. The estimated daily intake for bisphenol A due to consumption of all the three food categories was estimated at 0.57 µg kg⁻¹ bw per day. This value was within the temporary tolerable daily intake set by the European Union. A health risk assessment prediction using the hazard quotient showed that the potential for non-carcinogenic effects in adults due to a lifetime consumption of the studied canned foods was minimal but detrimental to vulnerable groups especially babies. In this regard, detection of these bisphenols in the studied food samples remains a concern and regular monitoring is necessary to ensure they remain within permissible migration levels.