Development and application of a GC/MS rapid screening method for selected endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, antioxidants, and plasticizers

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are of environmental importance since they mimic, block or trigger an over or under production of the body's natural hormones. They consist predominantly of natural and synthetic hormones, certain pesticides, metabolites of some surfactants (alkylphenols) and several phthalates. According to the USEPA out of the 87,000 chemicals commercially available, 10,000 exhibit endocrine disruptive activities and affect the normal hormonal functions in animals. Large quantities of these compounds entering aquatic environments may be responsible for not only acutely toxic effects, but also chronic abnormalities and endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms. In addition to EDCs, pharmaceuticals such as analgesics, antibiotics, antidepressants, antineoplastic agents, blood lipid regulators and tranquilizers to name a few, were found present in treated wastewater, surface water and irrigation water (Daughton and Ternes, 1999; Kolpin 2002). Personal care product ingredients (PCPIs) such as fragrances and insect repellents together with preservatives, disinfectants/antiseptics and sunscreen agents have been also detected in treated wastewater. Other chemicals used in consumer products and manufacturing (e.g., plasticizers, flame retardant chemicals) may also be present in treated effluent (e.g., Paxéus, 1996).; A rapid GC-MS method was developed and validated that allows quantification at the ng/L level of 19 analytes in water including human pharmaceuticals, hormones, antioxidants and plasticizers. Method detection limits (MDLs) at the ng/L were achieved in the total ion chromatogram (range 15–250 ng/L) and selected ion monitoring (range 8–85 ng/L) acquisition modes. Method recovery at pH 3 and pH 7 were conducted using a batch liquid-liquid extraction and an on-line continouous liquid-liquid extraction. For the 19 analytes under study better recoveries were obtained when extraction was conducted at pH 3.; The method was applied to two types of environmental samples namely, agricultural runoff water and sediment from fields irrigated with predominantly treated wastewater and secondly to influents and effluents of three reclaimed water treatment facilities in southern California. Surface water and ground recharge water were also tested. A large number of analytes targeted in this study were present. This new method detected also addittional non-target analytes.