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A simple, rapid, and novel liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine levels of eight bisphenol analogues (A, S, F, B, P, AF, AP, and Z), phenol, and p-tert-butylphenol migrated from food contact material (FCM) into food simulants. Method validation showed acceptable values in terms of linearity, precision, and accuracy. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.53-29.6 and 1.77-29.6 μg L−1, respectively. Water, 4% acetic acid, 50% ethanol, and n-heptane were employed as food simulants for the migration tests, and the proposed method was applied to 234 articles of 11 FCMs including polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polypropylene, and polyethyleneterephthalate, obtained from domestic markets and manufacturers in Korea. Only phenol was found in the FCMs poly(cyclophexane-1,4-dimethylene terephthalate), polylactide, and thermoplastic polyurethane. Eight bisphenol analogues and p-tert-butyl phenol were not found in any samples. Using the obtained migration results, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of phenol was calculated. Exposure assessments were carried out to compare the EDI with the tolerable daily intake (TDI), showing a low percentage (0.18%) of the TDI reported. This is the first study to examine eight bisphenol analogues and two phenols simultaneously in FCMs using the LC-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the blood mercury levels of the general Korean population. The data from subjects of all ages were pooled from recent national surveys. In the combined surveys, the geometric means (GMs) of the blood mercury concentrations in subjects aged 0–7, 8–18, and 19 years and above were 2.05 (2010–2011), 2.12 (2010–2011), and 3.74 μg/L (2008–2011), respectively. There was an increasing trend in blood mercury levels with age until 59 years and then a slight decline in the group above 60 years. The time trend for exposure to mercury in Korea also showed a marked decline. In comparing estimated methylmercury exposure to the Korean health-based guidance value (tolerable weekly intake [TWI]: 2.0 μg/kg bw/week), the GMs of methylmercury exposure for subjects aged 0–7, 8–18, and 19 years and above were 0.30, 0.31, and 0.43 μg/kg bw/week, respectively, while methylmercury exposure did not exceed the TWI (15.0%, 15.5%, and 21.5% compared to the TWI, respectively). The 95th percentiles of estimated methylmercury exposure ranged from 0.71 to 1.61 μg/kg bw/week, which was not above the TWI (range, 35.5–80.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]