Trace analysis of antidepressant pharmaceuticals and their select degradates in aquatic matrixes by LC/ESI/MS/MS.
Treated wastewater effluent is a potential environmental point source for antidepressant pharmaceuticals. A quantitative method was developed for the determination of trace levels of antidepressants in environmental aquatic matrixes using solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries of parent antidepressants from matrix spiking experiments for the individual antidepressants ranged from 72 to 118% at low concentrations (0.5 ng/L) and 70 to 118% at high concentrations (100 ng/L) for the solid-phase extraction method. Method detection limits for the individual antidepressant compounds ranged from 0.19 to 0.45 ng/L. The method was applied to wastewater effluent and samples collected from a wastewater-dominated stream. Venlafaxine was the predominant antidepressant observed in wastewater and river water samples. Individual antidepressant concentrations found in the wastewater effluent ranged from 3 (duloxetine) to 2190 ng/L (venlafaxine), whereas individual concentrations in the waste-dominated stream ranged from 0.72 (norfluoxetine) to 1310 ng/L (venlafaxine).
Schultz
Melissa M
MM
Methods Research and Development Program, National Water Quality Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 25046, MS 407, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA.
Furlong
Edward T
ET
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water