Quantitative determination of three sulfonamides in environmental water samples using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method was developed to detect the three sulfonamides para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA), ortho-toluenesulfonamide (o-TSA) and benzenesulfonamide (BSA) in environmental water samples at concentrations down to 0.02 μg/L using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). Wastewater, surface water, groundwater and drinking water samples from Berlin (Germany) were analysed for all three compounds which appear to be ubiquitously present in the aquatic environment. p-TSA was found in high concentrations in the wastewater (<0.02–50.8 μg/L) and in groundwater below a former sewage farm (<0.02–41 μg/L), and in lower concentrations in the surface water (<0.02 to 1.15 μg/L) and drinking water (<0.02–0.27 μg/L). o-TSA and BSA were detected in considerably lower concentrations. The study makes clear that p-TSA should be monitored because of its comparatively high concentration in Berlin's drinking water.