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METHODS DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE LOW-LEVEL PERCHLORATE DETECTION IN DRINKING WATER BY CONDUCTIVITY AND MASS SPECTROMETRY - ISSUES AND IMPACT
Citation:
Hedrick, E J. METHODS DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE LOW-LEVEL PERCHLORATE DETECTION IN DRINKING WATER BY CONDUCTIVITY AND MASS SPECTROMETRY - ISSUES AND IMPACT. Presented at Severn Trent 4th annual Analytical Program Compliance, Louisville, KY, June 17-18, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
The goal of this project is to develop a method for the analysis of perchlorate in drinking water with a method detection limit between 0.02 and 0.1 ug/L (ppb) and a minimum reporting limit between 0.1 and 0.5 ug/L (ppb). [Note: this effort focuses on development of a sensitive and accurate method for laboratory analysis of perchlorate in drinking water: a related NERL task under the RARE program, 12505, focuses on development of a screening method for use with source waters.]
Description:
The goal of this research is to develop a USEPA method for the determination of sub-ppb concentrations of the perchlorate anion in ground and surface drinking waters. To date, ion chromatography using a KOH mobile phase, electrolytic conductivity suppression and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection has been explored. Perchlorate is a drinking water contaminant originating from the dissolution of the salts of ammonium, potassium, magnesium or sodium in water. It is used primarily as an oxidant in solid propellant for rockets, missiles, pyrotechnics, as a component in air bag inflators, and in highway safety flares. Based on EPA Information Request Responses and occurrence monitoring, there are 95 confrmed perchlorate releases in 25 states and 230 users or manufacturers in 40 states. From accidental releases and disposal, perchlorate has become a contaminant in surface and ground waters where it is highly mobile and, due to its chemical stability, persists for decades. The primary human health effect is inhibition of iodide uptake by the thyroid gland. By disrupting the thyroid hormone production, perchlorate interferes with metabolism and can affect brain development in fetuses and children, leading to mental impairment. The perchlorate anion has been found in numerous drinking water supplies across the United States. There is an urgent need to be able to confirm and quantify perchlorate at lower concentrations than the currently approved USEPA method allows which use ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection. In this work, sub-ppb quantitation of perchlorate in drinking waters and contaminated ground waters using ion chromatography with electrolytic conductivity suppression, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (IC-ESI-MS) is demonstrated.