Determination of phenolic xenoestrogens in environmental samples by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

Abstract

A method is proposed for the determination of several phenolic xenoestrogens in aqueous and solid environmental samples. The method uses solid-phase extraction (preceded by ultrasonic solvent extraction for solid samples), reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation, and mass spectrometric detection using both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electrospray ionization. This method was developed to support several studies undertaken to obtain aquatic and sedimentary data for rivers and seashores in Spain that are likely to be contaminated by endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as a consequence of wastewater discharge. Nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs), nonylphenoxy carboxylates (NPECs), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in various samples of surface water and sediment, collected at different locations upstream and downstream from outfalls of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Seawater and marine sediments were collected in different harbor areas in Spain. Additionally, WWTP influent and effluents were analyzed to monitor the occurrence and transformation of phenolic EDCs during physicochemical and biological treatment. Rather high concentrations of the compounds investigated were found in some samples. Concentrations of NP were ≤590 μg/kg in sediments and ≤15 μg/L in water samples. NPEOs and NPECs were found in water samples in concentrations ≤41 and ≤35 μg/L, respectively. In solid samples (river sediment), concentrations of NPEO were ≤818 μg/kg and those of NP1EC were 95 μg/kg.