NOVEL APPROACHES FOR MASS SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

摘要

The analysis of endocrine-disrupting compounds(EDCs)in natural waters has been challenging due to their structural diversity and typically low concentrations.While there are few common structural characteristics of EDCs,these compounds share a common mechanism of toxic action - deleterious interaction with the endocrine system of exposed organisms(e.g.,binding and transactivation or inhibition of nuclear hormone receptor proteins).EDCs typically occur in the presence of a complex mixture of organic contaminants and natural organic matter(e.g.,in wastewater).