Publications

Evaluation of mass spectrometry ionisation methods and the use of dansyl derivatisation for the analysis of estrogens in marine- and fresh- surface waters and synthetic effluent

This report relates to work carried out under project O4- Improved measurement of clinical environmental toxins of the NMS Chemical and Biological Metrology programme.

Naturally excreted estrone (E1), 17-b-estradiol (E2), and synthetic estrogen 17-a-ethynylestradiol (EE2) have been identified as the major endocrine disrupting chemicals in sewage effluent in the UK. The low levels of estrogens in environmental waters require highly sensitive and selective analytical methods coupled with extensive sample clean-up and enrichment procedures. Reported method detection limits (MDLs) in water samples vary greatly according to matrix type, sample preparation, derivatisation procedures and enrichment factors.

This report describes a comprehensive study of four LC-MS/MS methods, making use of three ionisation modes and one derivatisation procedure, and one GC-MS method, successfully evaluating the potential of each for detecting sub ng L^-1 level estrogens in environmental matrices.

To download this report click on the link below (you must be logged in). For further information about topics covered by the report, please contact the NMS helpdesk at LGC.