Development and Application of a Method to Quantify Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Stabilizers in Human Serum

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are phenolic benzotriazoles primarily used as additives in industrial and commercial products such as plastics and coatings due to their protective properties against light-induced degradation. Several BUVSs are ubiquitously detected in the environment, exhibiting persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties, raising concern regarding potential adverse health effects. This study developed a method to measure UV-328, UV-327, UV-320, UV-326, and UV-350 in human serum using liquid–liquid extraction with a gel permeation chromatography cleanup step, followed by analysis on a gas chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometer (LLE-GPC-GC-Orbitrap). The method was successfully applied to 23 pooled human serum samples collected in 2020–2021 covering 2300 individuals from two states in Australia (Tasmania and Victoria). UV-326 was detected above the method detection limit in 67% (Victoria) and 81% (Tasmania) of pooled serum samples with concentrations in both states ranging from <0.011 ng/mL to 0.070 ng/mL. No significant differences in serum UV-326 concentrations were observed among age groups, sexes, or states. UV-327 was detected in 17% of Tasmanian samples with serum concentrations ranging from <0.012 ng/mL to 0.021 ng/mL while it was not detected in Victorian samples. Other BUVSs were not detected in the serum samples from the studied Australian population.