ULTRA-TRACE-LEVEL DETERMINATION OF THE ANTIFOULING AGENT IRGAROL-1051BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION

The contamination level of the s-triazine herbicide Irgarol 1051, whic h is used as the active ingredient in antifouling paints, was studied in the Western Scheldt estuary. The combined use of large-volume injec tion gas chromatography and ion trap (MS-MS) detection, enabled identi fication and quantification at the 0.1-1 ng/l level. By using tandem m ass spectrometric detection (MS-MS), rather than conventional MS, a gr eat gain in selectivity was achieved. The concentration levels found r anged between 1 and 10 ng/l.