Detection and quantification of some emerging micropollutants in different categories of water

A method for simultaneous analysis of some estrogens (equilin, estrone, 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, estriol) in complex aqueous matrices of WWTP effluents and receiving surface waters was developed. The method is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A geographic variability of estrogens was assessed on a large scale of the Danube River and its main tributaries, Jiu, Olt and Arges; assessment of the degree of contamination of surface water from our country with these hormones.