Determination of UV filters and antimicrobial agents in environmental water samples.
Although there is increasing concern about residues from personal care products entering the aquatic environment and their potential to accumulate to levels that pose a health threat to humans and wildlife, we still know little about the extent and magnitude of their presence in the aquatic environment. In this study we describe a procedure for isolation, and subsequent determination, of compounds commonly added to personal care products. The compounds of interest include UV filters with the commercial name Eusolex (homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor, benzophenone-3, octocrylene, butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and two common anti-microbial agents, clorophene and triclosan. Water samples were filtered, acidified, and extracted by use of solid-phase extraction. Extracted compounds were then derivatised before analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. By use of our method we obtained limits of detection of 13-266 ng L(-1) for UV filters, and 10-186 ng L(-1) for triclosan and clorophene. Recoveries were 82-98% for deionised water and 50-98% for natural water (seawater, pool water, lake water, and river water). Samples collected in Slovenia included seventeen recreational waters (seawater, pool water, lake water, and river water; August 2004) and four wastewaters (January 2005). The most abundant UV filter was benzophenone-3 (11-400 ng L(-1)). Of the two anti-microbial agents studied, trace amounts, only, of triclosan were present in the river Kolpa (68 ng L(-1)) and in an hospital effluent (122 ng L(-1)).
Cuderman
Petra
P
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva cesta 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. petra.cuderman@ijs.si
Heath
Ester
E
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004003:Dichlorophen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D014260:Triclosan / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D014260:Triclosan; C004660:clorophene; D004003:Dichlorophen