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Detection of Steroids in Tap and Drinking Water Using an Optimized Analytical Method by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can produce effects on the human health or living beings. Hence, it is of high importance to determine their presence in water. This work presents a reliable method for determining 17β-Estradiol (E2) and 17α-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) in tap and drinking water. The analytic method proposed was optimized by spiking ultrapure water samples with a known amount of steroids in terms of solid phase extraction by varying elution solvent volume and analyte mass in the cartridge, the extract concentration by using either distinct temperatures in rotary evaporator or nitrogen gentle stream, and the solvent effect in chemical derivatization with N,O-bis (trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide:trimethylchlorosilane (1%). The performance of the analytical method was assessed and applied to real samples; the efficiency of extraction and derivatization procedure ranged from 81 to 100% for E2 (CV 4–19%) and from 82 to 96% for EE2 (CV 4–18%). Limits of detection (quantification) were 1.0 (3.0) ng/L and 3.0 (10.0) ng/L for E2 and EE2, respectively. Analysis of the drinking water samples yielded concentrations ranging from 3.0 to 11.4 ng/L for E2 and from 10.0 to 246 ng/L for EE2. Analyses of steroids in tap water were found below the limit of detection. Consumption of drinking water in the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals could be a risk for the users in the long term and their consumption should be avoided under the principle of prevention.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico) for the financial aid during this research (Projects: CONACYT- CB-84425 and CONACYT PDCPN2014-01-248408).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tecnología Ambiental, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Av. Normalistas 800, Colinas de la Normal, 44270, Guadalajara, Mexico

    Ramiro Vallejo-Rodríguez, Alberto López-López & Elizabeth León-Becerril

  2. Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara (U de G), Calle Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, Nextipac, 45220, Zapopan, Mexico

    Perla Berenice Sánchez-Torres

  3. Catedrático CONACYT, Centro de Investigaciones Químicas-IICBA, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, C.P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    Mario Murillo-Tovar

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  1. Ramiro Vallejo-Rodríguez
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  2. Perla Berenice Sánchez-Torres
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Correspondence to Ramiro Vallejo-Rodríguez.

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Vallejo-Rodríguez, R., Sánchez-Torres, P.B., López-López, A. et al. Detection of Steroids in Tap and Drinking Water Using an Optimized Analytical Method by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Expo Health 10, 189–199 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-017-0254-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-017-0254-x

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