Analysis of steroidal estrogen residues in food and environmental samples

Abstract

A comprehensive review of analytical methods for estrogen residues in food and the environment is presented. Both humans and animals can excrete estrogen, which can be detected in the environment. Furthermore, replacement therapy and livestock manure also make the situation worse, as the low concentration of estrogens has endocrine-disruptive effects such as the feminization of male fish. In this review, we review the existing analytical methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), HPLC and GC with mass spectrometry (LC/MS and GC/MS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and various bioassays. These analytical methods for estrogens are compared with each other, and the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods are highlighted. Specific aspects of these analytes, sample handling, chromatographic conditions, and detection methods are also discussed.