Development and analysis of 49 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in contact lenses using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) possess water-repellent, oil-repellent, and heat-resistant properties, making them widely used in consumer goods and industrial products. However, PFASs have been increasingly associated with health concerns, including reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and thyroid disease. In 2023, the US consumer platform "Mamavation" reported organic fluorine levels ranging from 105 to 20,700 ppm in 18 contact lenses, raising concerns about the potential presence of PFASs in these products. Given the absence of established international testing methods and regulatory limits for PFASs in contact lenses, this study evaluated nine standard international methods, ultimately selecting 49 PFASs as target analytes after eliminating overlaps. To facilitate detection, novel extraction methods were developed for contact lenses and their lens care solutions. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed for analysis, utilizing an analytical column (Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX, 1.7 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm) and an isolator column (Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX, 5 µm, 2.1 × 50 mm) to minimize background interference. Electrospray ionization in combination with multiple reaction monitoring mode enabled rapid analysis within 24 minutes. For contact lenses, the limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 1 to 400 ng/g, while for lens care solutions, the LOQ ranged from 0.04 to 0.8 ng/mL. When applied to 12 contact lens samples, the method detected 6:2 FTS (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) in only one lens care solution at a concentration of 0.087 ng/mL. This study highlights the importance of further investigation into PFAS contamination in contact lenses and the need for international standardization in testing methodologies.