Triclosan in waste and surface waters from the upper Detroit River by liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is an antimicroibial disinfectant agent used in a wide array of consumer products. An analytical method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by reverse phase, liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization (negative)-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI(-)-MS/MS; in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode) was developed, optimized and validated for the determination of triclosan in wastewater/sewage treatment plant (WSTP) effluent and surface waters from the upper Detroit River (Canada). The mean recoveries (+/-%RSD) of triclosan and the internal standard 2'-HO-tribromodiphenyl ether (2'-HO-BDE-28) spiked to surface water and WSTP effluent samples ranged similarly from 104+/-8% and 91+/-10%, respectively, and method limits of quantification were in the low ppb/high ppt range. However, ESI(-) enhancement was found for both analytes due to sample matrix effects, as indicated by % process efficiencies (a measure of ESI(-) enhancement/suppression), which were in the 111-128% range. We report the first known assessment of triclosan in the Detroit River watershed of the Great Lakes, which preliminarily examined the presence and UV-treatment effects on triclosan in effluent from the major WSTP serving the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and fate in surface waters of the upper Detroit River. Triclosan in WSTP effluent decreased 22% after final UV treatment to a mean concentration of 63 ng/L. Concentrations were further reduced to 4 and 8 ng/L (a >90% reduction) in surface water samples from sites downstream on the Canadian shoreline of the Detroit River, which was due to dilution. Two hydroxylated tribrominated diphenyl ethers, which are structurally similar to triclosan, were also detected in WSTP effluent and surface water samples.