Limited attention has been given to the presence and partitioning of these chemicals in the environment. The crux for their low-level chemical determination is concentration from the matrix and separation from analytical interferences. At NERL's Environmental Sciences Division, solid phase extraction techniques are being explored as an approach for sample preconcentration and clean-up of estrogens to remove analytical interferences. Analytes are being separated by liquid chromatography using a column designed specifically for multiple-ring phenolic compounds such as estradiol.
Detection is by UV absorbance and double-focused fluorescence spectrophotometry.
Mr. McDaniel is conducting this work in conjunction with his graduate student research project. This work supports current regional needs to assess the estrogenicity of surface waters. This work is also being conducted in collaboration with Joe Bumgarner, from the Human Exposure Atmospheric Sciences Division. His research involves the development of immunoassay methods to assess the estrogenicity of environmental media where agricultural pharmaceuticals may be reaching surface waters. The exposure tool developed for this work may also provide a confirmational technique for some of the immunoassay methods utilized be Dr. Bumgarner.