Research Information System
Microchemical Journal, vol.224, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Man-made micropollutants and plasticizers, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are increasingly detected in drinking water and may pose health risks even at ultra-trace levels. This study investigated the effects of sample volume and extraction strategy on stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) performance and developed an enhanced consecutive sequential SBSE (C-Seq-SBSE) method coupled with gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) for sensitive and reliable determination of a broad range of contaminants in tap water. The optimized protocol employed extended extraction times (6 h), moderate sample volumes (100 mL), and repeated sequential extractions (5 × 100 mL), effectively overcoming equilibrium limitations of conventional SBSE while avoiding large-volume sampling and solvent-intensive procedures. The method enabled efficient enrichment of 65 target compounds spanning a wide polarity range (log Kow = 2.36–8.39), including PAHs, PCBs, phenols, pesticides, phthalates, and other organic micropollutants. Validation results demonstrated satisfactory analytical performance, with recoveries of 81–102%, repeatability of 6–15% RSD, and limits of detection between 0.01 and 2.0 ng/L, depending on compound class. The C-Seq-SBSE method was successfully applied to tap water samples collected from multiple cities in Türkiye. Hierarchical heat-map analysis indicated distinct contamination profiles, suggesting contributions from pesticide application and plastic/PVC usage. Enhanced enrichment enabled detection of emerging contaminants such as benzyl benzoate. Estimated daily intake (EDI) assessments revealed potential health concerns associated with phthalates and plasticizers in tap water from Karabük, Uludağ, Eskişehir, and Çorum. Overall, C-Seq-SBSE provides a sensitive, efficient, and sustainable approach for comprehensive monitoring of micropollutants in drinking water.