Simultaneous screening of estrogens, progestogens, and phenols and their metabolites in potable water and river water by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

► A method for screening of estrogens, progestogens, phenols, and their metabolites in water using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was developed. ► The mass errors between theoretical and experimental mass of all target compounds were less than 3mDa. ► Some target compounds were detected in the actual potable water and river water samples from Shanghai City in China. ► One estrogen metabolite was hypothesized by the post-target analysis in river water samples.