Simultaneous determination of cyanobacterial hepato-and neurotoxins in water samples by ion-pair supported enrichment and HPLC-ESI-MS-MS

Summary Cyanobacterial neurotoxins, such as anatoxin-a and saxitoxin, as well as hepatotoxins including microcystins and nodularin were simultaneously determined in water samples by ion-pair supported, solid phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to UV and tandem mass spectrometry (RP-LC-UV; MS-MS). With quantification limits in water samples of approximately 50 ng L⁻¹ for the microcystins (MC-LR,-YR,-RR,-LA), nodularin, and anatoxin-a and 630 ng L⁻¹ for saxitoxin the method is well suited for surveillance of the proposed WHO guidelines for cyanobacterial toxins. MS detection permits, unlike the commonly used UV detection, unambiguous identification and accurate quantification of cyanobacterial toxins even in highly matrix-polluted, water samples.