Broad-spectrum analysis of endocrine disruptors in environmental samples

A comprehensive analytical method of endocrine disrupters (i.e., alkylpheno ls, phthalic acid esters, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, po lychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs) in environmental samples was developed. The method employs Soxhlet-extraction with dichloromethane and two-step-silica- gel and activated-charcoal column chromatography which provides eleven frac tions, followed by determination on capillary GC equipped with MSD or ECD. The present method was applied to Tokyo Bay sediments. Most of the target c ompounds were identified and quantified clearly demonstrating the applicabi lity to various environmental samples. Their concentrations are as follows: 4-t-octylphenol: 10.0 ng/g; 4-t-nonylphenol: 184 ng/g; benzyl n-butyl phth alate: 6.12 ng/g; dicyclohexyl phthalate: 2.56 ng/g; bisphenol A: 6.58 ng/g ; benz[a]anthracene: 58.1 ng/g; benzo[a]pyrene: 93.7 ng/g; IUPAC#77 coplana r PCB: 0.82 ng/g; DDT: 0.42 ng/g; DDD: 1.00 ng/g; DDE: 1.37 ng/g. This meth od provides a powerful analytical tool to investigate a wide range of endoc rine disrupters in samples of limited quantity.