Innovative extraction methods for non-phthalate plastic additives determination in water using GC and LC coupled to Q-Orbitrap.

This study investigates the presence of non-phthalate plastic additives (NPPAs), emerging contaminants increasingly used as alternatives to hazardous phthalates, in various water sources. To address their potential environmental and health risks, two complementary extraction methods were developed: direct immersion solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography coupled to Q-Orbitrap (DI-SPME-GC-Q-Orbitrap) and salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (SALLE-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap). The complementary use of these two methods makes it possible to analyse a larger number of analytes, 27 in particular, enabling the detection of 19 and 23 NPPAs by GC and LC, respectively (15 compounds were simultaneously monitored by both techniques), with limits of quantification (LOQs) ranging from 0.05 to 4.0 μg/L. Both methods demonstrated satisfactory trueness and precision in accordance with analytical validation standards. The application of these methods to water samples revealed the widespread presence of NPPAs, particularly 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (HCPK) and triacetin (TA), which were detected at concentrations up to 5.33 μg/L. Toxicity assessments based on LD50 values indicated that these compounds pose significant environmental and health risks, surpassing some restricted phthalates in toxicity. These findings underscore the urgent need to monitor and regulate NPPAs as hazardous materials to safeguard water quality and public health. This work highlights the utility of green analytical methods for evaluating emerging pollutants in water systems, aligning with the principles of sustainable environmental management.