A new method for monitoring oestrogens, N-octylphenol, and bisphenol A in wastewater treatment plants by solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new analytical method, based on solid-phase extraction with Oasis HLB sorbent and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, has been described for the simultaneous determination of various oestrogens ( oestrone, oestradiol, ethynyloestradiol, and diethylstilboestrol) and other compounds considered as endocrine disrupters ( bisphenol A and 4-octylphenol) in wastewater. The usual derivatization step is avoided so as to provide a faster and easy method, which is very suitable for routine monitoring. The injection of high sample volumes (8 mu L) allowed determination limits in the range 2-20 ng L-1. Recovery percentages ranged from 75 to 99% ( except for 4-octylphenol, 30%) with RSDs < 9%. The method was applied to water samples, from raw influents and treated effluents, from July 2003 to April 2004. Bisphenol A (< 1.7 mg L-1) and oestrone (< 0.2 mg L-1) were usually found, indicating partial elimination during wastewater treatment.