Targeted and non-targeted screening of multi-class emerging contaminants in aquaculture products using LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS.

Abstract

Non-targeted screening methodologies have emerged as essential tools for comprehensive food safety surveillance, enabling detection of unanticipated contaminants beyond conventional targeted analysis. This study presents the first comprehensive non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry screening platform for aquaculture products established in Egypt, integrating streamlined extraction protocols with liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). A total of 213 samples encompassing eight commercially important aquaculture commodities-salmon, pangasius, basa, tuna, tilapia, shrimp, lobster, and crawfish-were analyzed for veterinary pharmaceuticals, prohibited compounds, environmental pollutants, and their transformation products. Non-targeted screening revealed 48 compounds spanning multiple chemical classes, including triphenylmethane dyes, polyethylene glycol derivatives, industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical residues, and nitroimidazole-related compounds. Crystal violet, a banned carcinogenic dye, was detected across all fish species except shrimp with frequencies ranging from 8% to 31%, with pangasius exhibiting the highest occurrence. Pangasius demonstrated the broadest contaminant diversity (46 compounds), followed by salmon (32 compounds), tilapia (25 compounds), and basa (25 compounds). These findings demonstrate the value of non-targeted approaches for identifying emerging contaminants and provide essential baseline data for risk-based monitoring programs, representing a significant advancement for regulatory food safety assessment in aquaculture matrices.