Determination of bisphenol A in river water and body fluid samples by stir bar sorptive extraction with in situ derivatization and thermal desorption-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A new method, based on stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with in situ derivatization and thermal desorption (TD)-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is described for the determination of trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) in river water, urine, plasma, and saliva samples. The derivatization conditions with acetic acid anhydride and the SBSE conditions such as sample volumes and extraction time are investigated. Then, the stir bar is subjected to TD followed by GC–MS. The detection limits of BPA in river water, urine, plasma, and saliva samples are 1–5, 20, 100, and 20 pg ml−1 (ppt), respectively. Calibration for BPA was shown to be linear with a correlation coefficient of >0.99. The average recoveries of BPA in all samples are higher than 95% (R.S.D. < 10%) with correction using an added surrogate standard, 13C12-bisphenol A. This simple, accurate, sensitive, and selective analytical method may be applicable to the determination of trace amounts of BPA in liquid samples.