Corrigendum to “Gas chromatography–trapped ion mobility mass spectrometry: A highly specific and ultra-sensitive platform for quantifying sub-ppt levels of dioxins and PCBs in food” [Chemosphere 385, 2025, 144557]

In this study, we evaluated the quantitative capabilities of a GC-APCI trapped ion mobility (TIMS) TOF platform for the determination of ultra-trace levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in complex food matrices. Using a Bruker timsTOF Pro 2 instrument, three fat-based proficiency test samples - fish oil, palm oil, and milk fat - were analyzed and compared to a validated GC-sectorHRMS method, in accordance with the criteria set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/644. Linearity was confirmed across broad dynamic ranges, with relative response factor (RRF) precision consistently below 20 %. Instrumental limits of quantification (iLOQs) reached the 100–500 fg/μL range for dioxins and low pg/μL for PCBs, while method LOQs (mLOQs) were typically in the high fg/g to low pg/g range. Intermediate precision (RSD_R) remained below regulatory thresholds in 97 % of cases. Furthermore, 80 % of PCDD/Fs and over 87 % of PCB measurements met trueness requirements, with summed WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ and NDL-PCB concentrations in close agreement with sectorHRMS values. Importantly, the addition of the ion mobility dimension provided distinct benefits. It enabled the separation of coeluting isomers (e.g., 2,3,7,8-TCDD), resolved isobaric interferences (e.g., PeCDD and HxCB 169), and allowed for high-confidence analyte identification using collision cross section (CCS) values. CCS differences between native and ¹³C-labeled standards were consistently below 0.5 %, supporting its use as an additional identification criterion. Overall, while the method showed slightly reduced performance for ultra-trace dioxins, it demonstrated accurate quantification and enhanced selectivity, highlighting the strong potential of TIMS-TOF technology for contaminant analysis in food safety applications.