Development of a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of 15 Bisphenol A analogues in human serum and urine: Application of paired samples and global exposure assessment.

Abstract

The global replacement of Bisphenol A (BPA) with structurally similar yet understudied analogues demands precise biomonitoring tools to assess human exposure and health risks. To bridge critical gaps, we developed a novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of 15 emerging BPA analogues including Bisphenol AF (BPAF), Bisphenol AP (BPAP), Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol C (BPC), Bisphenol E (BPE), Bisphenol F (BPF), Bisphenol G (BPG), Bisphenol FL (BPFL), Bisphenol M (BPM), Bisphenol P (BPP), Bisphenol pH (BPPH), Bisphenol S (BPS), Bisphenol TMC (BPTMC), Bisphenol Z (BPZ), and Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BFDGE)-in human serum and urine matrices. The method achieved ultrahigh sensitivity with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.008-0.032 μg/L in urine and 0.010-0.030 μg/L in serum, high accuracy (recoveries: 84.58-113.53 %), and reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤14.7 %). Rigorous validation was conducted through uncertainty assessment and green chemistry metrics (GAC) evaluation. The following scores were obtained: Analytical GREEnness metric approach (AGREE):0.65, Analytical GREEnness Metric for Sample Preparation (AGREEprep):0.64, Modified Green analytical procedure index (MoGAPI) :72, Complex modified Green analytical procedure index (ComplexMoGAPI):73, RGB model: 74.2 %, Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI):60, Click Analytical Chemistry Index (CACI):69 and Carbon Footprint Reduction Index (CaFRI):71, respectively. These results confirm the method's reliability and environmental sustainability. Applied to 44 paired samples from Chinese children, the study revealed serum biomarkers (BPPH + BPTMC) as superior indicators of internal exposure compared to urinary metabolites, providing the first-reported paired biospecimen data for these analogues. Furthermore, dual-matrix biomonitoring (serum + urine) significantly improved cumulative exposure assessment accuracy. This work establishes a robust analytical framework for tracking emerging BPA substitutes, supporting evidence-based chemical regulation and advancing environmental health research.