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Development of a U.S. EPA Method for the Analysis of Selected Drinking Water Contaminants by LC/MS/MS
Citation:
SHOEMAKER, J. A. AND B. BOUTIN. Development of a U.S. EPA Method for the Analysis of Selected Drinking Water Contaminants by LC/MS/MS. Presented at Water Quality Technology Conference, Cincinnati, OH, November 16 - 20, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this research effort is to develop analytical methods to be used to measure the occurrence of priority water pollutants in the nation's drinking water supplies. To accomplish this objective, ORD/NERL scientists must first coordinate with staff from the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) to identify the most appropriate chemical contaminants for which analytical methods need to be developed, and then ORD/NERL must develop, and demonstrate the applicability of, new or improved analytical methods that are specific, sensitive, and practical enough for application in commercial laboratories as part of the UCMR monitoring efforts.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) collects national occurrence data on drinking water contaminants using Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulations (UCMRs). These contaminants may be selected from the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), or may be emerging contaminants with the potential for inclusion on future CCLs. In order for a contaminant to be included in a future UCMR, a standardized analytical method for its measurement in drinking water must be available. A group of 13 chemical contaminants are being evaluated for inclusion in a direct aqueous injection-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (DAI-LC/MS/MS) method. Preliminary data were obtained for all 13 chemical contaminants. For chlorinated tap water fortified at 10 ug/L, recoveries ranged from 83 to 106% with a relative standard deviation of 0.8-7.9% for 11 of the 13 chemicals.