Multiresidue determination of UV filters in water samples by solid‐phase extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis

Abstract

UV filters, contained in sunscreens and other cosmetic products, as well as in some plastics and industrial products, are nowadays considered contaminants of emerging concern because their widespread and increasing use has lead to their presence in the environment. Furthermore, some UV filters are suspected to have endocrine disruption activity. In the present work, we developed an analytical method based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of UV filters in tap and lake waters. Sixteen UV filters were extracted from water samples by solid-phase extraction employing graphitized carbon black as adsorbent material. Handling 200 mL of water sample, satisfactory recoveries were obtained for almost all the analytes. The limits of detection and quantification of the method were comparable to those reported in other works, and ranged between 0.7-3.5 and 1.9-11.8 ng/L, respectively; however in our case the number of investigated compounds was larger. The major encountered problem in method development was to identify the background contamination sources and reduce their contribution. UV filters were not detected in tap water samples, whereas the analyses conducted on samples collected from three different lakes showed that the swimming areas are most subject to UV filter contamination.

Simultaneous Determination of Pharmaceuticals by Solid-phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: A Case Study from Sharjah Sewage Treatment Plant

“…This necessitates the need to determine the behavior and regulate the concentrations of pharmaceutical contaminants during water recycling and reuse to safeguard public health and the environment as well as to reduce impediments to public acceptance of such alternative water management strategies. The possible presence of ECC, such as pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, human hormones and personal care products [12], in reclaimed municipal wastewater is a growing challenge faced by developed and developing countries. Emerging contaminants raised concerns in recent years because of their potential chronic toxicity and development of bacterial pathogen resistance in humans and ecosystems [13,14].…”

Determination of personal care products in water using UHPLC–MS after solid phase extraction with mesoporous silica‐based MCM‐41 functionalized with cyanopropyl groups

“…UVFs have been determined in waters by LC‐UV [6,25,26], LC–MS/MS [15,27,28], and UHPLC–MS/MS [6,29–31], in addition to GC–MS with an additional derivatization step [6,32,33] and GC–MS/MS [34].…”

Development of a magnetic solid‐phase extraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons

“…Due to the low concentrations, pretreatment methods are required to analyze trace organic contaminants effectively. SPE has been widely accepted as an efficient enrichment method for the analysis of organic micropollutants . SPE methods consume only a low amount of organic solvent, allowing its extensive application in environmental analysis.…”