A LC-MS/MS method with enhanced sensitivity and specificity was established for monitoring microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in drinking water supplies in southern Taiwan. The enhanced sensitivity was achieved by the selection of a doubly charged MC-LR as the precursor ion to result in an multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) pair ions of m/z 498.6 -> 135.0. Using this ion pair, a record low detection limit of 2 pg was achieved on column, found in the available literature. A sample preparation method involving C8 solid-phase extraction gave satisfactory recoveries of the analyte. Nodularin, with structural similarity to MC-LR, was used as an internal standard to minimize matrix effects of water samples collected from six different water reservoirs in southern Taiwan, where MC-LR was detected at sub-ppb levels in all the reservoirs. The best precision and accuracy of this method were found with samples prepared to contain MC-LR at 0.1 and 1 mu g l(-1). This new method requires considerably smaller water sample volumes because of enhanced quantification sensitivity and hence reduces the time needed for analysis. It should serve as a useful example for method development for monitoring other members of the microcystin family in drinking water supplies.
