An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ( UHPLC-MS/MS ) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 9 kinds of trace endocrine disrupting chemicals in biological samples using ultrasonic-assisted extraction followed by purification with gel permeation chromatography ( GPC) and silica gel columns. The sample extracts were purified by Bio beads S-X3 GPC columns with cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (1:1, V/V) as mobile phase, and the target compounds were eluted in the fraction of 12-28 mL retention volume. Electrospray ionization source operated in positive mode and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source operated in negative mode were used for mass spectrometric detection. Data acquisition was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Recoveries were predominately within 65 . 2%-118 . 0%. Method quantification limits were 0 . 1-9 . 7 ng/g dw ( dry weight ) . This method was successfully applied to the analysis of the target endocrine disrupting chemicals in carps collected from the Pearl River. with the exception of carbanilide and triclocarban, the rest analytes were detected in fish tissue samples, with the concentrations varied within the range of 0. 1-22. 6 ng/g dw.

OBJECTIVETo measure the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in wastewater and evaluate the EDCs removal efficiencies in the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

METHODSA battery of in vitro recombinant yeast bioassays incorporated with exogenous metabolic activation system (rat liver preparation, S9 mix) was conducted to assess the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR), and thyroid receptor (TR) ant/agonistic activities of effluents collected from Datansha WWTP.

RESULTSThe indirect estrogenic, anti-androgenic, anti-progesteronic, and anti-thyroidic activities were observed in the influent. The removal efficiencies of EDCs were above 74%, suggesting that the present wastewater treatment processes were good enough to remove most of these indirect endocrine disrupting chemicals.

CONCLUSIONThe incorporation of exogenous metabolic capacity into the test system was valid for the study of indirect effects on ER, AR, PR, and TR.

Biological Assay ; methods ; Endocrine Disruptors ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; toxicity ; Water Purification ; standards