Determination of Xenoestrogens Alkylphenols in Oyster and Snail Tissues by Extractive Steam Distillation and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method is presented for the determination of two well‐known xenoestrogens alkylphenols (4‐tert.‐octylphenol (4‐t‐OP) and 4‐nonylphenol isomers (4‐NPs)) in oysters and snails. The method involves extraction of the sample by a modified Nielson‐Kryger steam distillation extraction, and the alkylphenols were then identified and quantitated by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The quantitation limit of this method was less than 20 ng/g in 0.5 g (dry weight) of the samples. The perfect applicability of the steam distillation extraction method for 4‐t‐OP and 4‐NPs was determined after testing it with spiked and real samples. Recovery of 4‐t‐OP and 4‐NPs in spiked tissue samples was above 88% while relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 7 to 14%. 4‐tert.‐octylphenol and 4‐nonylphenol isomers are ubiquitous in oysters and snails with the concentrations of 4‐t‐OP and 4‐NPs ranging from 70 to 820 ng/g and from 210 to 2750 ng/g (dry weight), respectively.