Analysis of Multiple Endocrine Disruptors in Environmental Waters via Wide-Spectrum Solid-Phase Extraction and Dual-Polarity Ionization LC-Ion Trap-MS/MS

An analytical method for the determination of 35 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) present in the aquatic environment was developed and validated. The procedure includes an off-line solid-phase extraction of 500-mL water samples using wide-spectrum polymer packing material combined with two LC-ESI-MS/MS runs, in negative and positive ionization modes. Limits of quantitation were established between 0.1 and 20.0 ng/L. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained ranging from 80.1 to 110.2%. Calibration, using deuterated internal standardization, was performed by linear regression analysis. Linearity (R(2) > 0.99) was demonstrated over individually specified ranges using seven calibration points for each analyte. Intrabatch and interbatch precision, as well as accuracy (n = 5), were investigated at low, medium, and high concentrations. Precision for all compounds, expressed as the RSD, proved to be less than 17.8 and 20.0%, respectively, for intra- and interbatch. Accuracy, expressed as the mean recovery, was between 83.1 and 108.4% at all concentrations. Stability experiments showed no significant loss or deterioration for any of the analytes. Finally, the method was applied on real samples.