Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is a broad spectrum antibacterial that is incorporated into numerous home use products such as soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, toys, bedding, socks, and trash bags to decrease bacterial contaminations. Structurally, triclosan can be related to environmental contaminants such as polybrominated biphenyl ethers or dioxins; therefore, numerous reports of triclosan in sewage and wastewater treatment effluents have raised concerns. Because of its high degree of lipophilicity and non volatility, triclosan has been demonstrated to bioaccumulate in the environment and it has been found at concentrations ranging from 750 to greater than 10,000 pg/g in fish plasma from the Detroit River. Breakdown products produced in river water by the action of sunlight include dioxins. Methyl triclosan, presumably formed from bacterial metabolism in sewage plants, has also been reported in environmental samples.

This paper describes the development and assay performance of a magnetic particle-based ELISA for triclosan and methyl triclosan in surface and waste water samples, as well as soil and sediment samples.  The results showed that the magnetic particle based ELISA exhibits a sensitivity of 20 parts per trillion in water with an analytical range of 25-1000 ppt.  Average recoveries in water were 96% and within and between assay precision of < 12%.  Data obtained when testing river water, soil and sediment samples, and from samples obtained during the various treatment steps of waste water treatment plants, as well as comparison to instrumental analysis will be presented.