Analysis of selected steroid hormones in sea of Marmara sediment samples by LC-ESI/MS-MS

Background and Aims: Sediment is the general name given to the muddy structure located at the bottom of aquatic environments such as the sea. In our study, the amounts of steroid hormones were investigated in the sediment samples taken from the Marmara Sea. According to other studies, it has been determined that the excess of the hormone load in the sediments may be an indicator of human/animal sourced pollution, as well as the negative effects of the hormones mixed in the seas with the ecological cycle on the health of humans and animals. Methods: In our study, 31 selected human/animal, plant, natural and synthetic hormone-steroids were studied using Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS-MS). Methanol and QuEChERS were used as extraction methods. Sediment samples were taken from a total of 27 points selected for sampling at the Marmara Sea. Results: According to the results we found, the androgens: androsterone (24.50- 1718.18 ng [g.sup.-1]), testosterone (86.30-1600.32 ng [g.sup.-1]); the estrogens: mestranol (33.73-228.32 ng [g.sup.-1]), equilin (53.44-1232.53 ng [g.sup.-1]); the progestagens; pregnenolone (37.50-374.76 ng [g.sup.-1]), progesterone (39.96-405.60 ng [g.sup.-1]); levonorgestrel (325.25 and 937.93 ng [g.sup.-1]); the fecal sterols: cholestanone (57.57-1726.32 ng [g.sup.-1]), coprostanol + epicoprostanol (51.43-1370.33 ng [g.sup.-1]); and the plant sterol; campesterol (35.30-1859.90 ng [g.sup.-1]) were the compounds detected. Conclusion: Estrogens and progestogens are active components of birth control pills, and cholestanone and coprostanol + epicoprostanol are steroids that are indicative of human/animal pollution. Coprostanol + epicoprostanol and cholestanone, which are indicators of fecal pollution, were detected in all sediment samples. In our study, steroid hormones were detected for the first time in Sea of Marmara sediments and possible environmental risks were evaluated. Keywords: Marmara Sea, sediment, LC-ESI/MS-MS, steroids, fecal sterols