Development of a fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of endocrine-disrupting compounds in waters.
A fast liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS) method was developed to study five endocrine-disrupting compounds (4-n-nonylphenol, bisphenol A, estrone, 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol) in water. Different columns were tested; the chromatographic separation of the analytes was optimized on a Pinnacle DB biphenylic column with a water-acetonitrile gradient elution, which allowed the separation of the selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in less than 6 min. Quantitative analysis was performed in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode; two transitions were chosen for each compound, using the most abundant for quantitation. Calibration curves using bisphenol A-d (16) as internal standard were drawn, showing good correlation coefficients (0.9993-0.9998). All figures of merit of the method were satisfactory; limits of detection were in the low pg range for all analytes. The method was then applied to the determination of the analytes in real water samples: to this aim, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed in the influent and in the effluent of a drinking water treatment plant in Liguria (Italy). The EDC level was rather low in the influent and negligible in the outlet, reflecting the expected function of the treatment plant.
Di Carro
Marina
M
Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genoa, Italy.
Scapolla
Carlo
C
Liscio
Camilla
C
Magi
Emanuele
E
D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D057230:Limit of Detection; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water