Comparison of electrospray ionization,atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization for determining estrogenic chemicals in water by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with chemical derivatizations

This study compared the sensitivities and matrix effects of four ionization modes and four reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) systems on analyzing estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 4-nonylphenol (NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), bisphenol A (BPA) and their derivatives of dansyl chloride or pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBBr) in water matrixes using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The four probes were electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and APCI/APPI; the four LC systems were ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with or without post-column split, a mixed-mode column and two-dimensional LC (2D-LC). Dansylated compounds with ESI at UPLC condition had the most intense signals and less matrix effects of the various combinations of ionization and LC systems. The on-column limits of detection (LODs) of dansylated estrogens by SRM were 0.05–0.20 pg, and the LODs in sewage treatment plant effluent and in river water were 0.23–0.52 and 0.56–0.91 ng/L, respectively. The LODs using selected ion monitoring (SIM) reached low ng/L levels in real samples and measured concentrations were comparable with those of SRM.     

Improved method for analyzing estrogens in water by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

An improved LC-electrospray ionization MS method was established for four estrogens (17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), estrone (E1), and ethynyl estradiol (EE)) in environmental water. Almost complete separation of all estrogens was achieved on a phenyl column with methanol/water as the mobile phase. Quantification was achieved in the negative ionization mode using selected ion monitoring. The instrumental detection limits were 20-30 ng/l for the four analytes. In Milli-Q spiked water, the recoveries of the four estrogens were 72-81%, which was similar to those found for river water spiked with the corresponding deuterated estrogens. The detection limits for the four estrogens in river water were 0.1-0.2 ng/l. The method was used to detect residual estrogens in the Tonghui River, which receives water from a municipal sewage treatment plant in Beijing; E1 (1.1 ng/l) and E2 (0.2 ng/l) were detected.     

Determination of estrogenic steroids in surface water and wastewater by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method is presented which permits trace level determination of 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2), 17beta-estradiol (E2), and estrone (E1). Using this method, the estrogenic steroids were analyzed in drinking water, surface water, and wastewater (sewage influents and effluents) at concentrations down to 0.1 ng/L. Sample volumes between 100 and 500 mL are concentrated using automated solid-phase extraction. Analysis is performed by liquid chromatography with detection by tandem mass spectrometry. Applying simple clean-up procedures and internal standard calibration, recovery losses resulting from matrix-dependent ion suppression during electrospray ionization could be compensated for all of the investigated compounds. Recoveries around 100% were obtained for all analytes after correction using the internal standards. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were between 0.1 and 0.4 ng/L for purified sewage, surface, ground, and drinking water and between 1 and 2 ng/L in the case of raw sewage. Water treatment by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or by a surface water treatment plant affected the removal of all estrogenic steroids. Thus, E1, E2, and EE2 were removed in the municipal WWTPs to the extent of 93%, 93%, and 80%, respectively. In the effluents of the WWTP in Ruhleben (Berlin, Germany), E1, E2, and EE2 were detected at the low ng/L level. E2 and EE2 were, however, not present in the Berlin surface water above the LOQ (0.2 ng/L). E1 was the only compound that could be detected in surface water samples. After additional surface water treatment it was still detectable but only at trace-level concentrations with a mean value of 0.16 ng/L.     

Determination of eugenol in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry using a simple off-line dansyl chloride derivatization reaction to enhance signal intensity

A rapid, selective and sensitive method was developed for the determination of eugenol concentration using an off-line dansyl chloride derivatization step to enhance signal intensity. The method consisted of a protein precipitation extraction followed by derivatization with dansyl chloride and analysis by full scan liquid chromatography electrospray quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QIT). The separation was achieved using a 100 x 2 mm C(8) analytical column combined with an isocratic mobile phase composed of 75:25 acetonitrile: 0.1% formic acid in water set at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. Signal intensity of the eugenol-dansyl chloride derivative was increased up to 100-fold as compared with the underivatized eugenol in positive electrospray mode. An analytical range of 100-20,000 ng/mL was used in the calibration curve of plasma and blood samples. The LOD observed was 0.5 pg injected on column. The novel method met all requirements of specificity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability. In conclusion, a rapid and sensitive LC-ESI/MS/MS method using a derivatization agent was developed to enhance signal intensity of eugenol.     

Analysis of free estrogens and their conjugates in sewage and river waters by solid-phase extraction then liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry

Summary ‘Free’ steroidal estrogens have been identified as compounds possibly responsible for endocrine-disruption of aquatic fauna populating rivers in which municipal sewage-treatment plants (STP) discharge their effluents. Natural and synthetic estrogens are excreted, as glucuronides and sulfates, by man, in the urine but these are bioconverted back to the unconjugated forms in wastewater discharges. For this reason we have developed a sensitive analytical procedure, without derivatization, for identification and quantitation of conjugated and free estrogens in surface and waste waters. The hormones were extracted and fractionated, by use of Carbograph cartridges, into neutral and acid fractions which were then analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries were between 66 and 100% and limits of detection (LOD) between 15.0 and 0.003 ng L⁻¹, depending on the compound and the water matrix. When this methodology was applied to real sewage and river water we could measure the main free estrogens at ng L⁻¹ levels. Among the conjugates we always observed the presence of estrone 3-sulfate (at levels between 8.0 and 0.5 ng L⁻¹).     

Microwave-accelerated derivatization for the simultaneous gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of natural and synthetic estrogenic steroids

A rapid microwave-accelerated derivatization process for the GC-MS analysis of steroid estrogens, estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and mestranol (MeEE2), was developed. Under microwave irradiation, the five estrogenic hormones studied were simultaneously derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA)+trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in pyridine solution. Effects of irradiation time (15-120 s) and power level (240-800 W) on the yield of the derivatization were investigated. The derivatization under the irradiation of 800 W microwave for 60s produced comparable results when compared with the conventional heating process in a sand bath for 30 min at 80 degrees C in terms of derivatization yield, linearity and precision for all steroid hormones tested. The calibration curves are linear between 3.00 and 3.00 x 10(2) microg mL(-1). The square of the regression coefficients (R(2)) range from 0.979 to 1.000. The applicability of the method was evaluated on spiked river and distilled water samples at two concentrations, 25.0 and 2.00 x 10(2) ng mL(-1). The recoveries obtained by using microwave heating (60s, 800 W) were similar to those by conventional heating. When combined solid-phase extraction (SPE) with the application of the microwave-accelerated derivatization proposed here, the detection limits of 0.02-0.1 ng L(-1) for the steroid hormones have been achieved. The results demonstrated that microwave-accelerated derivatization is an efficient and suitable sample preparation method for the GC-MS analysis of estrogenic steroids.     

Application of dansyl derivatization to the high pressure liquid chromatographic identification of equine estrogens

The HPLC qualitative analysis of conjugated estrogens is accomplished by a two-step procedure involving the formation of the corresponding dansyl derivatives. The first step involves the acid hydrolysis of the conjugated estrogens, followed by dansyl derivatization and HPLC separation of these derivatives on a liChrosorb Si-60 column with 50% (v/v) chloroform-n-heptane as the mobile phase. All of the dansyl estrogens are well separated except for the 17-keto estrogens, estrone, equilin, and equilenin. The second step, designed to detect the three 17-keto estrogens, begins with the selective sodium borohydride reduction of the conjugated 17-keto estrogens to the corresponding 17-hydroxyl compounds (the beta-epimer being formed in vast predominance over the alpha-epimer), followed by acid hydrolysis, dansyl derivatization, and HPLC separation of the derivatives as in the first step. Detection of the 17-keto estrogens is possible by determining differences in peak heights between the chromatograms of the first and second analyses. The The proposed method is sensitive, the dansyl derivatives stable, and nine different estrogens can be readily identified.     

Development and validation of a high-sensitivity liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method with chemical derivatization for the determination of ethinyl estradiol in human plasma

An ultra-sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the analysis of oral contraceptive ethinyl estradiol (EE) was developed and validated over the curve range of 2.5-500 pg/mL using 1 mL of human plasma sample. Ethinyl estradiol and the internal standard, ethinyl estradiol tetra-deuterated (EE-d4), were extracted from the plasma matrix with methyl t-butyl ether, derivatized with dansyl chloride and then back-extracted into hexane. The hexane phase was evaporated to dryness, reconstituted and injected onto the LC/MS/MS system. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Luna C(18) column (50 x 2 mm, 5 micro m) with an isocratic mobile phase of 20:80 (v/v) water:acetonitrile with 1% formic acid. The offline derivatization procedure introduced the easily ionizable tertiary amine function group to EE. This greatly improved analyte sensitivity in electrospray ionization and enabled us to achieve the desired lower limit of quantitation at 2.5 pg/mL. This high sensitivity method can be used for therapeutic drug monitoring or supporting bio-equivalence and drug-drug interaction studies in human subjects.     

Hemimicelle-based solid-phase extraction of estrogens from environmental water samples

Hemimicelles and admicelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on alumina and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) on silica were evaluated for the concentration and purification of the priority estrogens estrone (E(1)), 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and ethynylestradiol (EE(2)) from sewage and river samples. Retention was based on analyte-sorbent hydrophobic and cation-pi interactions. Parameters affecting the SPE of estrogens on both types of sorbents were comparatively investigated. Adsolubilization was quantitative for SDS hemimicelles/admicelles and CTAB admicelles. SDS hemimicelle-coated alumina was the sorbent selected on the basis of the lower elution volume required and the higher sample flow rate allowed. Combination of estrogen adsolubilization-based SPE with liquid chromatography-diode array/fluorescence detection permitted the quantification of the target compounds with detection limits ranging from 20 to 100 ng l(-1). The relative standard deviation ranged from 3 to 8%. The approach developed was applied to the determination of estrogens in raw and treated sewage and river samples. The recovery found for estrogens in these environmental matrices was between 85 and 105%.     

Simultaneous identification and quantification of bisphenol A and 12 bisphenol analogues in environmental samples using precolumn derivatization and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the identification and quantification of bisphenol A and 12 bisphenol analogues in river water and sediment samples combining liquid–liquid extraction, precolumn derivatization, and ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Analytes were extracted from the river water sample using a liquid–liquid extraction method. Dansyl chloride was selected as a derivatization reagent. Derivatization reaction conditions affecting production of the dansyl derivatives were tested and optimized. All the derivatized target compounds were well separated and eluted in 10 min. Dansyl chloride labeled compounds were analyzed using a high‐resolution mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization in the positive mode, and the results were confirmed and quantified in the parallel reaction monitoring mode. The method validation results showed a satisfactory level of sensitivity. Linearity was assessed using matrix‐matched standard calibration, and good correlation coefficients were obtained. The limits of quantification for the analytes ranged from 0.005 to 0.02 ng/mL in river water and from 0.15 to 0.80 ng/g in sediment. Good reproducibility of the method in terms of intra‐ and interday precision was achieved, yielding relative standard deviations of less than 10.1 and 11.6%, respectively. Finally, this method was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples.     

Determination of naphthalenesulfonic acid isomers by large-volume on-line derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This work presents a modified method to analyze polar and water-soluble naphthalene monosulfonic acid (NS) isomers in industrial effluents and river water samples. The method involves extraction of samples by a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer solid-phase extraction cartridge, and on-line derivatization in the GC injection port using a large-volume (10 microl) sample injection with tetrabutylammonium salts. The analytes were then identified and quantitatively determined by GC-MS. The large-volume injection-port derivatization technique provides sensitivity, fast and reproducible results for NS isomers, to quantitation at 0.05 microg/l in 200 ml of water sample. Enhanced extracted mass chromatograms of molecular ion and [M-56]+ ion of butylated NS isomers by electron impact ionization MS allows us to determine residues at trace levels in environmental samples. Recoveries of the NS isomers in spiked water samples ranged from 70 to 82% with RSDs around 10%. Naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid was found as a major pollutant and propagated in surface water and industrial effluents.     

Determination of short-chain carbonyl compounds in drinking water matrices by bar adsorptive micro-extraction (BAμE) with in situ derivatization

In this contribution, bar adsorptive micro-extraction using polystyrene-divinylbenzene sorbent phase and in situ derivatization with pentafluorophenyl hydrazine, followed by liquid desorption and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (BAμE(PS-DVB)(PFPH in situ)-LD/HPLC-DAD), was developed for the determination of six short-chain carbonyl compounds (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, acetone, butanone, and 2-hexenal) in drinking water matrices. PFPH presented very good specificity as an in situ derivatization agent for short-chain ketones and aldehydes in aqueous media, allowing the formation of adducts with remarkable sensitivity, selectivity and the absence of photodegradation. Assays performed on 30-mL water samples spiked at the 25.0 μg L(-1) levels, under optimized experimental conditions, yielded recoveries ranging from 47.4 ± 3.8% to 85.2 ± 3.8%, in which the PS-DVB proved to be a convenient sorbent phase. The analytical performance showed good accuracy, suitable precision (RSD < 13.0%), detection limits in between 47 and 132 ng L(-1) and remarkable linear dynamic ranges (r(2) > 0.9907) from 1.0 to 80.0 μg L(-1). By using the standard addition methodology, the application of the present method to drinking water samples treated with different disinfectants, namely, chloride, ozone and both, allowed very good performances to monitor these priority compounds at the trace level. The proposed methodology proved to be a feasible alternative for polar compound analysis, showing to be easy to implement, reliable, sensitive and requiring a low sample volume to monitor short-chain aldehydes and ketones in drinking water matrices.     

Multi-residue analytical method for human pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones in river water and sewage effluents by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Pollutants such as human pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones that are not covered by environmental legislation have increasingly become important emerging aquatic contaminants. This paper reports the development of a sensitive and selective multi-residue method for simultaneous determination and quantification of 23 pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones from different therapeutic classes in water samples. Target pharmaceuticals include anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic agents, β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, antihistamine, analgesic and sex hormones. The developed method is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) with 30 min total run time. River water samples (150 mL) and (sewage treatment plant) STP effluents (100 mL) adjusted to pH 2, were loaded into MCX (3 cm³, 60 mg) cartridge and eluted with four different reagents for maximum recovery. Quantification was achieved by using eight isotopically labeled internal standards (I.S.) that effectively correct for losses during sample preparation and matrix effects during LC–ESI-MS/MS analysis. Good recoveries higher than 70% were obtained for most of target analytes in all matrices. Method detection limit (MDL) ranged from 0.2 to 281 ng/L. The developed method was applied to determine the levels of target analytes in various samples, including river water and STP effluents. Among the tested emerging pollutants, chlorothiazide was found at the highest level, with concentrations reaching up to 865 ng/L in STP effluent, and 182 ng/L in river water.     

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for the on-column solid-phase extraction of diethylstilbestrol from aqueous samples

The estrogenic compound diethylstilbestrol (DES) is widely studied because of its potential endocrine disruption effects. The prohibition of the use of diethylstilbestrol as a growth promoter has not been enough to ensure the total disappearance of this compound from environmental matrices. Due to the low levels of DES present in the environment, preconcentration and clean up methods are necessary for its analysis. This paper describes the synthesis and use of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as sorbent for on-column solid-phase extraction of DES from aqueous samples. The selectivity of the DES-MIP was evaluated towards several selected estrogens such as hexestrol (HEX), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), estradiol (E2) and ethynylestradiol (EE2). HPLC-DAD was used to quantify all analytes at 230-nm wavelength. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of DES in spiked river and tap water samples, with recoveries of 72% and 83% respectively.     

Optimizing gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of selected pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting substances in water using factorial experimental design

An analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed to simultaneously determine selected acidic and neutral pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting substances in surface and tap water. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Oasis HLB cartridges is followed by derivatization of the target analytes in the eluted extract. Derivatization was systematically optimized by employing a factorial experimental design. More specifically a central composite design was applied to search for the optimal conditions of the derivatization process and it was demonstrated that N-methyl-N-tert-butyl-dimethysilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) had a better overall performance compared to N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The influence of solvent ratios and elution volumes while using SPE were also studied using a factorial design. The method was developed successfully for most of the selected compounds [i.e. ibuprofen, salicylic acid, gemfibrozil, naproxen, triclosan, propranolol, diclofenac, carbamazepine, 4-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol-monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenoxyacetic acid (NP1EC), estrone (E1), and 17alpha-ethinyloestradiol (EE2)]. Relative recoveries for spiked river and tap water ranged from 47 to 130% and 60-109%, respectively. Typical limits of detection were less than 5 ng/L in tap water and less than 10 ng/L in river water. Twelve target compounds were detected in river and tap water samples using the developed method. This method is currently used in bench-scale drinking water treatment studies.     

Quantitation of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol in aquatic samples using liquid-liquid phase extraction, dansyl derivatization, and liquid chromatography/positive electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in environmental aqueous samples has been developed. Aquatic samples were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction, and organic phase extracts were concentrated and derivatized with dansyl chloride. Analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with positive electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS). Deuterated 17alpha-ethinylestradiol was used as internal standard and was added to samples before extraction. A limit of quantitation of 1 ng/L was obtained using a 25 mL aqueous sample. The average recovery of EE2 spiked into a 25 mL tapwater sample was 100%. This highly sensitive quantitation method is useful for measuring low levels of EE2 in aqueous environmental samples.     

Chemically enhanced liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry determination of glutamic acid in the diffusion medium of retinal cells

A rapid, reproducible and highly sensitive method, based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, was developed for the determination of the excitatory amino acid glutamic acid released in the diffusion medium of control, ischemic and mutant cells from retinas. Signal intensity of glutamic acid was enhanced by dansyl chloride derivatization giving rise to a detection limit in the order of pmol/mL. Further, in HPLC-ESI-MS detection an MS-friendly dansyl group to glutamic acid enhanced both ionization efficiency in the ESI source and collision-activated dissociation in the collision cell. The sample processing procedure included liquid-liquid extraction, derivatization with dansyl chloride and a final cation-exchange extraction to generate clean extracts for LC/MS/MS analysis. This approach has been validated as sensitive, linear (20-300 ng/mL), accurate and precise for the differential quantification of glutamic acid in the diffusion medium of retina cells. This is the first report of using chemical derivatization to enhance MS/MS detection of the glutamic acid released in the diffusion medium of wild-type and mutant retina cells, under ischemic conditions.     

Trace LC/MS/MS quantitation of 17β‐estradiol as a biomarker for selective estrogen receptor modulator activity in the rat brain

A sensitive LC/MS/MS method has been developed by derivatization of 17β‐estradiol (E2) with dansyl chloride to quantitate 17β‐E2 in female rat serum. The use of E2‐d₅ minimized interferences from endogenous 17β‐E2 in order to achieve a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 2.5 pg/ml using 150 µl of female rat serum. The recovery of the dansyl derivative was 95% or greater in quality control samples. The intra and interday assay precision was better than 8.2 and 6.2%, respectively, with accuracies ranging from 97 to 101% in the quality control samples. The assay was used for the quantitation of serum E2 as a biomarker for the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist activity of small molecule SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) in the female rat brain. The study revealed that a statistically significant upregulation of serum 17β‐E2 occurred for rats dosed with SERMs that are known to penetrate the brain and disrupt the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian (HPO) axis. Variations in 17β‐E2 in ascending dose studies also correlated with the corresponding trends in CYP17a1 levels, an mRNA biomarker for ovarian hyperstimulation. This biomarker assay has provided a useful screen for medicinal chemistry optimization to produce SERMs that do not interfere with negative feedback of estrogens on the brain and for biological hypothesis testing. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alkali-hydroxide-doped matrices for structural characterization of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides by MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry

We report new approaches using alkali-hydroxide-doped matrices to facilitate structural characterization of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) MS. The approaches involved pretreatment of the analytes with NaOH or LiOH in aqueous solution, followed by mixing them with MALDI matrices prior to MS analysis. It was found that for open-ended neutral underivatized oligosaccharides partial alkaline degradation occurred upon laser desorption and ionization of the hydroxide-pretreated analytes in 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). The effect intensified when nonacidic compounds such as 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) and 5-amino-2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (AMT) were used as matrix. The degradation allowed facile identification of the reducing end residue of the analyte and facilitated its structural characterization by postsource decay TOF-MS. Applying the same technique using matrices composed of LiOH and THAP or AMT led to the production of singly as well as multiple lithiated ions of oligosaccharides containing hexoses with free 3-OH groups. Extensive lithiation through multiple hydrogen-lithium exchanges up to 6 Li atoms was observed for maltoheptaose, beta-cyclodextrin, and dextran 1500. Such a 'lithium tagging' technique makes it possible to differentiate positional isomers of milk-neutral oligosaccharides, lacto-N-difucohexaose I and II (LNDFH-I and LNDFH-II), without the need of chemical derivatization or tandem MS analysis.     

Simultaneous amperometric determination of lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activities in compost bioremediation using artificial neural networks

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence derivatization were applied for a nanogram-level N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) analysis of water samples. For the analysis of N-nitrosodimethylamine, samples were first denitrosated by a mixed solution of hydrobromic acid and acetic acid to produce dimethylamine, which was derivatized with dansyl chloride for HPLC fluorescence detection. Fluorescence detection was optimized with excitation and emission wavelengths of 340 and 530 nm, respectively. pH adjustment after denitrosation was necessary to maximize fluorescence intensity with pHs in the range of 9-12. A dansyl chloride concentration of 500 mg l⁻¹ was found to be optimal for measuring a fluorescence signal. An instrumental detection limit of 0.1 ng of NDMA was possible with fluorescence derivatization. The NDMA in water samples was extracted by continuous solid-phase extraction using Ambersorb 572. Although the determination of NDMA was variable at lower concentrations (less than 200 ng l⁻¹), it was observed that the NDMA detection limit with this method could be lowered to a concentration of 10 ng l⁻¹. Another benefit of this method can be found in its selectivity for NDMA. Unlike gas chromatographic (GC) methods, this method generates a distinct peak for NDMA without interference even in the complex matrix of wastewater effluents. The HPLC with fluorescence derivatization method may be applicable for determining NDMA in water and wastewater samples for various research purposes and for screening environmental samples.