LC-MS2 trace analysis of antimicrobials in water, sediment and soil

We review recent liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods using different mass spectrometers (ion-trap, triple-quadrupole and time-of-flight) for the determination of antimicrobials in the environment. Limits of detection as low as 2 ng/l can be achieved. Studies show that antimicrobials are present in the aquatic environment at concentrations with maxima ranging from 6 ng/l of sulfamethizole in surface water to 12 mg/l of chlortetracycline in animal wastewaters. Effluents from wastewater- and sewage-treatment plants have received most attention because of the evidence that their removal of such compounds has been unsuccessful.