Determination of 20 Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in the Buffalo Milk Production Chain and Commercial Bovine Milk by UHPLC–MS/MS and HPLC–FLD

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The restriction of the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in industrial production has led manufacturers to employ several BPA analogues. The endocrine-disrupting activity of these substitutes has been proven, and some of them are already widespread in the environment. The intake of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals through diet represents a public concern, and food contamination data are still scarce in scientific literature. To investigate the levels of BPA and its analogues in the production chain of buffalo milk, we developed and validated two analytical methods based on UHPLC–MS/MS and HPLC–FLD. The methods were used to analyse feed and feed additives, raw milk, drinking water, and blood serum samples from buffalo farms in the Campania region, Southern Italy. BPA was found to be the most abundant contaminant, proving that the presence of this compound is still significant and should be monitored. ABSTRACT: Bisphenol A (BPA) and some of its analogues are well known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), i.e., compounds that can affect the physiological hormonal pathways in both animals and humans, causing adverse health effects. The intake of these substances through diet represents a public concern, compounded by the scarce data in the literature about contamination levels in food. In the framework of a research project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, we determined the contamination levels of BPA and 19 EDCs in the production chain of buffalo milk, analysing feed, drinking water, buffalo milk, and blood sera. Overall, 201 feed, 9 feed additive, 62 drinking water, 46 milk, and 190 blood serum samples were collected from 10 buffalo farms in the Campania region, Southern Italy, between 2019 and 2020, and analysed. Moreover, 15 retail bovine milk samples packaged both in Tetra Pak and in PET were analysed to further evaluate consumers’ exposure to EDCs. The results of our work showed no contamination by EDCs in drinking water samples, whereas in 43% of all of the other samples from the farms at least one bisphenol was detected. The most abundant bisphenol detected was BPA (32% of the samples from the farms and 80% of the retail milk samples), thus proving that this compound is still widely used for plastic production.