Determination of steroid hormone residues in sea urchins

Abstract

The fact of preserving our environment from human impact has turned into a real challenge, in part due to the inefficient removal of toxic substances in WWTP, such as steroid hormones. This problem leads to the contamination of marine habitats, resulting on the degradation of ecosystems, leaving the need of developing methodologies to evaluate which compounds are affecting marine organisms (Parida et al., 2021). The study of the presence of steroid hormones in marine organisms such as sea urchins is very interesting because it could be used as bioindicators, since they feed on algae, and they are constantly in contact with the sediment (Parra-Luna et al., 2020). Because of the low concentrations of steroid hormones in marine environments, it is necessary to develop an extraction procedure that allow to extract and preconcentrate these pollutants. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has been used due to many advantages in comparison with traditional extraction techniques. In this regard, MAE uses low volumes of organic solvents, easy handling of samples and the use of microwaves provides very selective extractions. This study presents the optimization of an analytical method to determine 15 hormones in sea urchins. The different variables (type of solvent, solvent volume, extraction time and extraction temperature) that affect the extraction procedure have been studied following factorial experimental designs. The extraction method, coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), showed very appropriate analytical parameters and it was applied to samples of 3 different species of sea urchins of the Canary Islands (Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis) found in different locations around the island of Gran Canaria (Spain).