Dimethylcyclosiloxanes in Mobile Smart Terminal Devices: Concentrations, Distributions, Profiles, and Environmental Emissions.

Dimethylcyclosiloxanes (DMCs) are utilized as vital monomers in the synthesis of organosilicon compounds, integral to the manufacture of mobile smart terminal devices. Toxicological studies have revealed potential endocrine-disrupting activity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and other toxicities of the DMCs. This study investigated the concentrations and composition profiles of seven DMCs, including hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6), and tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane (D7), hexadecamethylcyclooctasiloxane (D8), and octadecamethylcyclononasiloxane (D9) in three types of mobile smart terminal device components (silicone rubber, adhesive, and plastics). Environmental emissions of DMCs from silicone rubber materials were also estimated to improve the recognition of their potential fate within the environment. D5-D9 were widely present in silicone rubber and adhesives with detection rates ranging from 91-95.5% and 50-100%, respectively, while D3 and D4 were more frequently detected in plastics, both showing a detection rate of 61.1%. Silicone rubber had the highest total DMCs (∑7DMCs) and a concentration of 802.2 mg/kg, which were dominated by D7, D8, and D9. DMCs detected in adhesives were dominated by D4, D5, and D6. The estimated emission of ∑DMCs released into the environment in China from silicone rubber used in mobile smart terminal devices exceeds 5000 tons per year. Further studies are needed on the presence of DMCs in various commodities and environmental media to assess their ecological and human health impacts, as well as the toxicological effects of D7-D9 for the appropriate regulation of these chemicals.

[Determination of short chain chlorinated paraffins in polyvinyl chloride plastics by gas chromatography-negative chemical ion/mass spectrometry].

A novel method was established to determine short chain chlorinated paraffins (SC-CPs) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics by gas chromatography-negative chemical ion/mass spectrometry (GC-NCI/MS). Ultrasonic extraction was used to extract SCCPs from PVC plastics. The optimal extraction time was 1.5 h, and concentrated sulfuric acid was adopted to purify the extracted solution. Finally, SCCPs in a sample were detected by GC-NCI/MS at 160 C and with methane reagent gas at 1. 5 mL/min. This method was not influenced by medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in the sample, and accurate quantitation was made for SCCPs. Twelve batches of samples were analyzed and SCCPs were detected in each batch with the contents from 0. 3 x 10(2)mg/kg to 3. 5 x 10(4)mg/kg. With respect to European limitation of SC-CPs (1%), four batches of samples did not comply with the European regulation, and they accounted for 33. 3%. Obviously, high SCCPs risk was presented in PVC plastics.

[Determination of three organophosphate ester flame retardants in baby carriages by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with solid phase extraction].

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are high-production-volume chemicals used as flame retardants. Some western countries (e. g. America and European Union) have imposed restrictions on OPEs in baby products due to their similar persistent-organic-pollutants (POPs) properties. So far, there is no domestic or foreign standard for OPEs flame retardants in baby carriages. Ultrasonic extraction was used to extract three OPEs from baby carriages, and the extracts were purified by a florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) column, and finally detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The spiked recoveries of the three OPEs were in the range of 89.5% to 107.3%. The limits of detection (3S/N) were 0.01 mg/kg, and the limits of quantification (10S/N) were 0.1 mg/kg. This method could eliminate matrix effects and give accurate qualitative analytical results for the three OPE flame retardants in baby carriages. Thirty-seven samples were analyzed and the tris (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) detection rate was up to 81.1% with the mass concentration range of 1.0-15 312.8 mg/kg, and 32.4% of the samples exceeded the European Union directive (2014/79/EU) for TCPP (> 5 mg/kg), as well as tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris [2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl) ethyl] phosphate(TDCP) in two samples, which were in the range of 6.2-44.1 mg/kg. Thus, relatively high OPEs flame retardants risk was presented in baby carriages.

Semicarbazide in selected bird's nest products.

Currently, a number of food producers use hypochlorite to bleach food and inhibit the growth of bacteria, preserving the food. Because the presence of high amounts of nitrogen could result in the formation of semicarbazide (SEM), the bleaching process could be one of the predominant sources of SEM in food. To investigate this, we selected instant bottled bird's nest as an example of a food that is bleached in its production. SEM was detected in 27 of 28 instant bottled bird's nest samples. The levels of SEM detected mostly fell in the range of 5 to 50 µg/kg, which accounted for 75% of all samples measured. The SEM detected in the instant bottled bird's nest was found to have originated neither from the use of the antimicrobial agent nitrofurazone nor from azodicarbonamide, which is used as a blowing agent in gaskets used to seal the metal lid of the bottle. Instead, it could have originated from the bleaching process used in the preparation of the nests. Additionally, human exposure to SEM via consumption of instant bottled bird's nest for five subgroups of the population was estimated. Sensitivity analysis suggested that concentration of SEM in food is the most significant parameter governing human exposure via consumption of SEM-containing food.

Detection of DDT and its metabolites in two estuaries of South China using a SPME-based device: first report of p,p'-DDMU in water column.

A solid-phase microextration-based sampling method was employed to determine the concentrations of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDE) and 1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDMU), in two estuarine bays, Daya Bay and Hailing Bay, of South China. Six DDT components including p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDMU were detected in Hailing Bay, while only p,p'-DDD was found in Daya Bay. p,p'-DDD was the most abundant DDT component in both bays, sharply different from the previous finding in the water column of the Palos Verdes Shelf, California, USA that p,p'-DDE was prevalent. In addition, the occurrence of p,p'-DDMU (with a range of 0.047-0.21 ng/L in Hailing Bay) has not been reported around the globe, and its presence in our study region appeared to stem from dehydrochlorination of p,p'-DDD, favored under aerobic conditions, but further investigations are clearly needed to confirm the mechanism for generation of DDMU in estuarine environments.