Determination of parabens in urine samples by microextraction using packed sorbent and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

•MEPS/UPLC–MS/MS method was developed to determine parabens in urine samples.•The analyses using small sample volumes and low amount of organic solvent.•Packed syringe cartridges were used over 100 times in diluted urine samples.•Determination of parabens in urine from postpartum aiming to assess human exposure. A simple, sensitive, and selective method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of parabens [methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), propyl paraben (PrP), butyl paraben (BuP), and benzyl paraben (BzP)] in human urine samples. After microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) using a C18 phase, the parabens were separated on a Kinetex C18 column (100mm×2.1mm×1.7μm) within 4.6min using isocratic elution. These compounds were detected on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer using the multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode via an electrospray ionization source operating in the negative ionization mode. Important factors that influence MEPS performance were evaluated, such as the sample pH, draw–eject sample volume, clean-up step, and desorption conditions. The proposed MEPS/UPLC–MS/MS method presented a linear range from 0.5ngmL−1 (limit of quantification – LOQ) to 50ngmL−1, and interassay precision with coefficients of variation lower than 15%, and relative standard error values of the accuracy ranged from −8.8% to 15%. The MEPS/UPLC–MS/MS method was applied successfully to determine parabens in urine samples from 30 postpartum volunteers, enabling assessment of human exposure to these compounds.