Determination of estrogens and their conjugates in water using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 984; no. 2; pp. 195 - 202
• Main Authors: Isobe, Tomohiko, Shiraishi, Hiroaki, Yasuda, Masaru, Shinoda, Akiko, Suzuki, Hiroshi, Morita, Masatoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 17.01.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, Liquid - methods; Endocrine disrupters; Estrogens; Estrogens - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Natural water pollution; Other chromatographic methods; Pollution; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Steroids; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; Endocrine disrupters; Water analysis; Estrogens; Steroids; Ethinylestradiol; Steroid; Solid phase extraction; Chemical analysis; Estrogen; HPLC chromatography; Estradiol; Electrospray; Glucuroconjugate; Chemical enrichment; Sample preparation; Organic sulfate; Estriol; Urban waste water; Waste water discharge; Quantitative analysis; Trace analysis; Coupled method; Endocrine disruptor; Mass spectrometry MS/MS; Surface water; Lakes; Estrone; Water pollution; Waste water purification; River water
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9673(02)01851-4

An analytical procedure for the determination of steroid estrogens and their conjugates was developed and applied to aqueous environmental samples. The analytes of 15 compounds were solid-phase extracted and fractionated into two fractions: one containing unconjugated (free) steroids and the other containing conjugates (sulfates and glucuronides). Identification and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The recoveries for each compound ranged from 57 to 116% and reproducibilities represented as RSD ranged from 2.9 to 17%. Some of the sulfates and free compounds were detected in environmental samples, whereas most of the conjugates were below the detection limits.