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(18-09) Determination of Natural and Synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) by HPLC-Ion Trap MS. Environmental Application to the Venice Lagoon (Italy). Pojana, Giulio*,1, Busetti, Francesco1, Collarin, Anna1, Badetti, Elena1, Marcomini, Antonio1, 1 University of Venice, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, Venice, Italy ABSTRACT- Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are receiving an increasing attention due to their wide occurrence in the aquatic environment and their potential hazard to aquatic organisms. The relatively low specificity of estrogen receptor makes not only natural hormones (such as estradiol and estrone) but also many synthetic chemicals (such as nonylphenol and bisphenol) capable of estrogenic activity. Some EDCs have been demonstrated to be active even at very low concentration level (a few ng/L) and to show synergic effects, when co-present. A correct evaluation of the potential impact of EDCs toward an ecosystem can be made only with a trustworthy quantitation of their residual concentrations in aqueous and sediment compartments, and both expected low concentrations in natural waters and high variety of chemical structures render their determination a challenge for analytical chemistry. We report in this work the development of an analytical method for the simultaneous extraction/determination of natural (estradiol, estrone, estriol) and synthetic (nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates, nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates carboxylates, bisphenol-A, benzophenone, mestranol, ethynylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol) EDCs in aqueous environmental samples by HPLC coupled with Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry. The high sensitivity of the MS detector, together with the high selectivity of Ion Trap, which allows a reliable structural identification of analytes by means of selective fragmentation of parent ions, permitted to match the analytical challenge requested (limits of quantification: 100-300 pg/L). The developed analytical method has been applied to the determination of EDCs in coastal marine waters (Venice lagoon, Italy). Treated industrial and municipal effluents from mainland, together with raw municipal wastewaters from the historical center of Venice, render this ecosystem an interesting case of study for the exposure evaluation of aquatic life to natural and synthetic EDCs. Key words: Endocrine Disrupting Compounds, Mass Spectrometry, Environment |
