Jana Petre, Toma Galaon, Vasile Ion Iancu, Marcela Niculescu
Determination
Abstract:
Sludges from urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were tested for the
presence of the following natural and synthetic estrogenic steroids: estrone, 17α-
estradiol, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethinylestradiol and equiline. The method
involved ultrasonic extraction followed by solid phase extraction cleanup and liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry coupled with electrospray ionization in
the negative mode. The steroids were identified and determined by internal standard
method in selected multiple reaction monitoring mode. All target compounds were
detected in the investigated sludge samples. The highest estrogen concentrations were
determined for estrone, which reached 164.4 ng/g in one sample. Synthetic estrogen
17α-ethinylestradiol was detected in 50% of the analyzed samples, in concentrations
ranging from 2.7 to 16.1 ng/g.