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Development of a fast liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of endocrine-disrupting compounds in waters

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genoa, Italy

    Marina Di Carro, Carlo Scapolla, Camilla Liscio & Emanuele Magi

Authors
  1. Marina Di Carro
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  2. Carlo Scapolla
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  3. Camilla Liscio
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  4. Emanuele Magi
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Correspondence to Emanuele Magi.

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Di Carro, M., Scapolla, C., Liscio, C. et al. Development of a fast liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of endocrine-disrupting compounds in waters. Anal Bioanal Chem 398, 1025–1034 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3985-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3985-0

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