This
research focused on the analysis of various pharmaceuticals in drinking water samples such as
tricyclic anti-depressants, illicit drugs and benzodiazepines using an automated online SPE LC/MS/MS system with a total analysis time of 20 minutes. The time
consuming extraction of large sample volume was replaced by a small sample volume of 15 mL
with total elimination of the evaporation and reconstitution steps. This small sample volume is
the equivalent of a 500:1 enrichment ratio and produced a quantifiable signal at 10 ppt. Also, over-the-counter drugs, such as anti-allergy, anti-acid, cough suppressants and anti-fungal were screened in
drinking water samples from local towns and privately own wells. Includes reference, tables, abstract only.