Recent advances in the mass spectrometric analysis related to endocrine disrupting compounds in aquatic environmental samples

An overview of mass spectrometric methods used for the determination of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in environmental samples is presented. Among the EDCs we have selected five groups of compounds that are of priority within European Union and US research activities: alkylphenols, polychlorinated compounds (dioxins, furans and biphenyls), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phthalates and steroid sex hormones. Various aspects of current LC–MS and GC–MS methodology, including sample preparation, are discussed.