Impact of a Preoperative Exercise Program on General Fitness in Patients Awaiting Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

Background Evidence supports the association between exercise and outcomes following bariatric surgery. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the short-term benefits of preoperative exercise. Objectives The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and functional benefits of a 12-week preoperative exercise program in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. The primary aim was the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The secondary aim of this study included anthropometric measures, strength, and quality of life. Methods A total of 54 patients were enrolled in this pilot randomized controlled study. Of them, 29 patients received standard multidisciplinary preoperative care, while 25 patients participated in a 12-week supervised exercise program in addition to standard preoperative care consisting of strength and aerobic exercises three times per week in a fitness facility. The primary outcome was improvement in 6MWT. Secondary outcomes included other functional outcomes, quality of life, and anthropometric measures. Results Average attendance for the intervention group was 27.2 (75.6%) of 36 sessions. There was a mean improvement of 27 ± 10 meters in the intervention group compared with a reduction of 5 ± 10 meters in the control group (p = 0.003). Patients in the intervention group had significant improvement in all self-reported quality-of-life domains, particularly in the variables related to symptoms, hygiene, and emotions. Conclusions A 12-week preoperative exercise intervention was feasible and showed association with a statistically significant improvement in 6MWT and quality-of-life measures in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. The results of this study will inform sample size calculations and recruitment planning for a future study that will assess the longer-term benefits of a pre-surgical fitness intervention.

Detection of bioactive peptides including gonadotrophin-releasing factors (GnRHs) in horse urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS).

The use of bioactive peptides as a doping agent in both human and animal sports has become increasingly popular in recent years. As such, methods to control the misuse of bioactive peptides in equine sports have received attention. This paper describes a sensitive accurate mass method for the detection of 40 bioactive peptides and two non-peptide growth hormone secretagogues (< 2 kDa) at low pg/mL levels in horse urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS). A simple mixed-mode cation exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge was employed for the extraction of 42 targets and/or their in vitro metabolites from horse urine. The final extract was analyzed using UHPLC/HRMS in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode under both full scan and data independent acquisition (DIA, for MS2 ). The estimated limits of detection (LoD) for most of the targets could reach down to 10 pg/mL in horse urine. This method was validated for qualitative detection purposes. The validation data, including method specificity, method sensitivity, extraction recovery, method precision, and matrix effect were reported. A thorough in vitro study was also performed on four gonadotrophin-releasing factors (GnRHs), namely leuprorelin, buserelin, goserelin, and nafarelin, using the S9 fraction isolated from horse liver. The identified in vitro metabolites have been incorporated into the method for controlling the misuse of GnRHs. The applicability of this method was demonstrated by the identification of leuprorelin and one of its metabolites, Leu M4, in urine obtained after intramuscular administration of leuprorelin to a thoroughbred gelding (castrated horse).

Doping control analysis of antipsychotics and other prohibited substances in equine plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Antipsychotics are banned substances and considered by the Fédération Equestrian Internationale (FEI) to have no legitimate use in equine medicine and/or have a high potential for abuse. These substances are also prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). Over the years, antipsychotics have been abused or misused in equestrian sports and horseracing. A recent review of literature shows that there is yet a comprehensive screening method for antipsychotics in equine samples. This paper describes an efficient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection of over 80 antipsychotics and other prohibited substances at sub-parts-per-billion (ppb) to low-ppb levels in equine plasma after solid-phase extraction (SPE).

A high-throughput and broad-spectrum screening method for analysing over 120 drugs in horse urine using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

A high-throughput method has been developed for the doping control analysis of 124 drug targets, processing up to 154 horse urine samples in as short as 4.5 h, from the time the samples arrive at the laboratory to the reporting deadline of 30 min before the first race, including sample receipt and registration, preparation and instrument analysis and data vetting time. Sample preparation involves a brief enzyme hydrolysis step (30 min) to detect both free and glucuronide-conjugated drug targets. This is followed by extraction using solid-supported liquid extraction (SLE) and analysis using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The entire set-up comprised of four sets of Biotage Extrahera automation systems for conducting SLE and five to six sets of Orbitrap for instrumental screening using LC-HRMS. Suspicious samples flagged were subject to confirmatory analyses using liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method comprises 124 drug targets from a spectrum of 41 drug classes covering acidic, basic and neutral drugs. More than 85% of the targets had limits of detection at or below 5 ng/mL in horse urine, with the lowest at 0.02 ng/mL. The method was validated for qualitative identification, including specificity, sensitivity, extraction recovery and precision. Method applicability was demonstrated by the successful detection of different drugs, namely (a) butorphanol, (b) dexamethasone, (c) diclofenac, (d) flunixin and (e) phenylbutazone, in post-race or out-of-competition urine samples collected from racehorses. This method was developed for pre-race urine testing in Hong Kong; however, it is also suitable for testing post-race or out-of-competition urine samples, especially when a quick total analysis time is desired.

Assessing exposure to legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances via hair - The first nationwide survey in India.

In recent years, environmental issues emerging from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have raised high concern worldwide. Levels of human exposure to PFAS remain unknown in India. Biomonitoring data obtained from hair analysis have been evidenced to provide insight into retrospective human exposure to PFAS. In this study, 25 PFAS, including perfluoroalkyl acids and their precursors, were measured in 39 human hair samples collected from 14 cities in India. The inuflence of gender on the PFAS levels was also examined. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to provide preliminary indicative data (due to the limited sample size and variability in hair-length sampling) on the levels of PFAS in Indian hair. The concentrations of total PFAS in hair varied from below matrix-specific limit of quantification (<0.02 ng/g) to 3.78 ng/g. Among 9 PFAS quantified, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant compounds. Categorized into 4 regions, PFAS contamination exhibited certain regional difference where South India may show higher levels than the other regions. Highly significant positive correlation was observed between PFHxS and PFOS (p ≪ 0.001; r = 0.644), suggesting similar pathways of exposure to the two compounds. Higher PFAS occurrence was generally observed in the hair of females. Our results highlighted the urgent need to investigate the deposition mechanism of PFAS in hair.

Assessment of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in aquatic environments of China (Pearl River Delta, South China Sea, Yellow River Estuary) and Japan (Tokyo Bay).

The concentrations and spatial distribution of 14 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and plasticizers were studied in aquatic environments of China, namely, the Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China Sea (SCS) and Yellow River Estuary (YRE), as well as Tokyo Bay (TB) in Japan. These locations were characterized by different levels of socioeconomic development and human activities. The spatial pattern of OPFRs revealed their ubiquity along the coasts of China and Japan; the concentrations ranged from 15 to 1790, 1 to 147, 253 to 1720, and 107 to 284 ng L-1 in the PRD, SCS, YRE and TB, respectively. The most frequently detected OPFR was triethyl phosphate (TEP), followed by triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). A positive relationship (R2 = 0.668, p = 0.004) was observed between OPFR contamination and socioeconomic activity, measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, for the studied cities in China and Japan. The results suggest that an increase in manufacturing and construction activities in the studied areas may aggravate coastal contamination with OPFRs. The potential threat to aquatic organisms from exposure to TCEP, a suspected carcinogen, was revealed by the hazard quotient (HQ) and probabilistic assessments. Further investigation of OPFR exposure in the aquatic environment of China is urgently required.

Detection of seventy-two anabolic and androgenic steroids and/or their esters in horse hair using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in multiplexed targeted MS2 mode and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) are banned substances in both human and equine sports. They are often administered intramuscularly to horses in esterified forms for the purpose of extending their time of action. The authors' laboratory has previously reported an UHPLC/HRMS method using quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer in full scan and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode for the detection of 48 AAS and/or their esters in horse hair. However, two injections were required due to the long duty cycle time. In this paper, an UHPLC/HRMS method using multiplexed targeted MS2 mode was developed and validated to improve the coverage to 65 AAS and/or their esters in a single injection. In addition, a GC/MS/MS method in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode was developed to screen for another seven AAS and/or their esters not adequately covered by the UHPLC/HRMS method using the same sample extract after derivatisation with pentafluoropropionic anhydride. The UHPLC/HRMS and GC/MS/MS methods in combination allowed the detection of 72 AAS and/or their esters with estimated limits of detection down to sub to low ppb levels with good interday precision. Method applicability was demonstrated by the detection of boldione and 4-androstenedione in two out-of-competition hair samples and testosterone propionate in a referee hair sample.

Occurrence and fate of endogenous steroid hormones, alkylphenol ethoxylates, bisphenol A and phthalates in municipal sewage treatment systems.

Steroid hormones, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with the endocrine function in organisms at low concentrations. The occurrence, distribution behavior, removal rate and the fate of 31 target EDCs in sewage treatment plants, which consist of various treatment facilities and receiving water in Hong Kong, were investigated. Estrone, nonylphenol-di-ethoxylate and diethyl phthalate were found to be dominant in each group of influent samples with concentrations ranging from 11-33, 747-3945 and 445-4635ng/L, respectively. Conversely, progesterone, nonylphenol-mono-ethoxylate and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were the most abundant in dewatered sludge, with concentrations ranging from 0.9-237, 75-19,743 and 4310-37,016ng/g (dry weight). The removal rates of primary sedimentation and disinfection approaches were lower than 30% for most of the chemicals, while those of activated sludge and reverse osmosis were greater than 80% for more than two-thirds of the compounds, noticeably decreasing the estrogenic risk of sewage discharged into the environment. Steroid hormones were removed via biological degradation, while some APEOs and PAEs adsorbed to the sludge. Victoria Harbor poses a low to medium estrogenic risk mainly contributed by estrone and estradiol and deserves attention.

Detection of anabolic and androgenic steroids and/or their esters in horse hair using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.

Anabolic and androgenic steroids (AASs) are a class of prohibited substances banned in horseracing at all times. The common approach for controlling the misuse of AASs in equine sports is by detecting the presence of AASs and/or their metabolites in urine and blood samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This approach, however, often falls short as the duration of effect for many AASs are longer than their detection time in both urine and blood. As a result, there is a high risk that such AASs could escape detection in their official race-day samples although they may have been used during the long period of training. Hair analysis, on the other hand, can afford significantly longer detection windows. In addition, the identification of synthetic ester derivatives of AASs in hair, particularly for the endogenous ones, can provide unequivocal proof of their exogenous origin. This paper describes the development of a sensitive method (at sub to low parts-per-billion or ppb levels) for detecting 48 AASs and/or their esters in horse hair using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Decontaminated horse hair was pulverised and subjected to in-situ liquid-liquid extraction in a mixture of hexane - ethyl acetate (7:3, v/v) and phosphate buffer (0.1M, pH 9.5), followed by additional clean-up using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction. The final extract was analysed using UHPLC-HRMS in the positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode with both full scan and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). This method was validated for qualitative identification purposes. Validation data, including method specificity, method sensitivity, extraction recovery, method precision and matrix effect are presented. Method applicability was demonstrated by the successful detection and confirmation of testosterone propionate in a referee hair sample. To our knowledge, this was the first report of a comprehensive screening method for detecting as many as 48 AASs and/or their esters in horse hair. Moreover, retrospective analysis of non-targeted AASs and/or their esters was made feasible by re-examining the full scan UHPLC-HRMS data acquired.

In vitro phase I metabolism of selective estrogen receptor modulators in horse using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are chemicals that possess the anti-oestrogenic activities that are banned 'in' and 'out' of competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in human sports, and by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in horseracing. SERMs can be used as performance-enhancing drugs to boost the level of androgens or to compensate for the adverse effects as a result of extensive use of androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs). SERMs have indeed been abused in human sports; hence, a similar threat can be envisaged in horseracing. Numerous analytical findings attributed to the use of SERMs have been reported by WADA-accredited laboratories, including 42 cases of tamoxifen and 2 cases of toremifene in 2014. This paper describes the identification of the in vitro phase I metabolites of tamoxifen and toremifene using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), with an aim to identify potential screening targets for doping control in equine sports. A total of 13 and 11 in vitro metabolites have been identified for tamoxifen and toremifene, respectively, after incubation with homogenized horse liver. The more prominent in vitro biotransformation pathways include N-desmethylation, hydroxylation, and carboxylation. In addition, this is the first report of some novel metabolites for both tamoxifen and toremifene with hydroxylation occurring at the N-methyl moiety. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the phase I metabolism of tamoxifen and toremifene in horses using homogenized horse liver. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Association Between Physical Activity Intensity and Physical Capacity Among Individuals Awaiting Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is a routine component of the lifestyle modification program implemented prior to bariatric surgery, and one of the goals is to improve patients' physical capacity. However, the physical activity intensity recommended to meet that goal is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between time spent at different physical activity intensities and physical capacity in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 women and 13 men were recruited. The primary outcome was physical capacity measured using six objective tests: 6-min walk, chair stand, sit and reach, unipodal balance (eyes open and eyes closed), and hand grip strength tests. The primary exposure variable was physical activity intensity (i.e., sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous) measured by accelerometers. RESULTS: The average body mass index was 46.3 ± 5.4 kg/m2. Only 6% of total time was spent at moderate to vigorous intensity, while 71% of the time was spent sedentary. When adjusted for body mass index, age, and sex, four of the six physical capacity tests were significantly associated with moderate intensity physical activity ß(SE): 6-min walk 9.7 (2.7), chair stand 0.3 (0.1), balance (eyes open) 1.8 (0.7), and hand grip strength 1.2 (0.4), and only the 6-min walk was associated with sedentary activity 1.7 (0.7). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that physical capacity is associated with time spent at moderate intensity in individuals awaiting bariatric surgery. The next step is to study if an increase in time spent at moderate intensity will translate to improvements in physical capacity.

Doping control analysis of 46 polar drugs in horse plasma and urine using a 'dilute-and-shoot' ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry approach.

The high sensitivity of ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) allows the identification of many prohibited substances without pre-concentration, leading to the development of simple and fast 'dilute-and-shoot' methods for doping control for human and equine sports. While the detection of polar drugs in plasma and urine is difficult using liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction as these substances are poorly extracted, the 'dilute-and-shoot' approach is plausible. This paper describes a 'dilute-and-shoot' UHPLC-HRMS screening method to detect 46 polar drugs in equine urine and plasma, including some angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, sympathomimetics, anti-epileptics, hemostatics, the new doping agent 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR), as well as two threshold substances, namely dimethyl sulfoxide and theobromine. For plasma, the sample (200µL) was protein precipitated using trichloroacetic acid, and the resulting supernatant was diluted using Buffer A with an overall dilution factor of 3. For urine, the sample (20µL) was simply diluted 50-fold with Buffer A. The diluted plasma or urine sample was then analysed using a UHPLC-HRMS system in full-scan ESI mode. The assay was validated for qualitative identification purpose. This straightforward and reliable approach carried out in combination with other screening procedures has increased the efficiency of doping control analysis in the laboratory. Moreover, since the UHPLC-HRMS data were acquired in full-scan mode, the method could theoretically accommodate an unlimited number of existing and new doping agents, and would allow a retrospectively search for drugs that have not been targeted at the time of analysis.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Marine Mammals from the South China Sea and Their Temporal Changes 2002-2014: Concern for Alternatives of PFOS?

Perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), as well as the replacement for the phase-out C8 PFSAs were determined in the liver samples of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea between 2002 and 2014. Levels of total perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in samples ranged from 136-15,300 and 30.5-2,720 ng/g dw for dolphin and porpoise, respectively. Significant increasing trends of several individual PFCAs and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) were found in cetacean samples from 2002 to 2014, whereas no significant temporal trends of ∑PFASs appeared over the sampling period. This pattern may be attributed to the increasing usage of PFCAs and C4-based PFSAs following the restriction/voluntary withdrawal of the production and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) related products. In addition, significantly increasing temporal shifting trends of PFOS to PFBS were observed in the dolphin liver samples. This pattern may be attributed to the substitution of PFOS by its alternative, PFBS. The highest levels of PFOS were observed in the liver samples of dolphin as compared with other marine mammal studies published since 2006, indicating high contamination of PFAS in the South China region. An assessment of relatively high concentrations of C8-based PFASs in the liver samples of cetaceans predicted that concentrations of PFOS would be expected to affect some proportion of the cetacean populations studied, based on the toxicity thresholds derived.

In vitro metabolism studies of desoxy-methyltestosterone (DMT) and its five analogues, and in vivo metabolism of desoxy-vinyltestosterone (DVT) in horses.

The positive findings of norbolethone in 2002 and tetrahydrogestrinone in 2003 in human athlete samples confirmed that designer steroids were indeed being abused in human sports. In 2005, an addition to the family of designer steroids called 'Madol' [also known as desoxy-methyltestosterone (DMT)] was seized by government officials at the US-Canadian border. Two years later, a positive finding of DMT was reported in a mixed martial arts athlete's sample. It is not uncommon that doping agents used in human sports would likewise be abused in equine sports. Designer steroids would, therefore, pose a similar threat to the horseracing and equestrian communities. This paper describes the in vitro metabolism studies of DMT and five of its structural analogues with different substituents at the 17α position (RH, ethyl, vinyl, ethynyl and 2 H3 -methyl). In addition, the in vivo metabolism of desoxy-vinyltestosterone (DVT) in horses will be presented. The in vitro studies revealed that the metabolic pathways of DMT and its analogues occurred predominantly in the A-ring by way of a combination of enone formation, hydroxylation and reduction. Additional biotransformation involving hydroxylation of the 17α-alkyl group was also observed for DMT and some of its analogues. The oral administration experiment revealed that DVT was extensively metabolised and the parent drug was not detected in urine. Two in vivo metabolites, derived respectively from (1) hydroxylation of the A-ring and (2) di-hydroxylation together with A-ring double-bond reduction, could be detected in urine up to a maximum of 46 h after administration. Another in vivo metabolite, derived from hydroxylation of the A-ring with additional double-bond reduction and di-hydroxylation of the 17α-vinyl group, could be detected in urine up to a maximum of 70 h post-administration. All in vivo metabolites were excreted mainly as glucuronides and were also detected in the in vitro studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bioconcentration, metabolism and neurotoxicity of the organophorous flame retardant 1,3-dichloro 2-propyl phosphate (TDCPP) to zebrafish.

Organophosphate flame retardants are ubiquitous environmental contaminants; however, knowledge is limited regarding their environmental health risks and toxicity. Here, we investigated the effects of acute and long-term exposure to tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) to the nervous system of zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos (2 h post-fertilization) were exposed to TDCPP (0-100 µg/L) for 6 months up until sexual maturation. Concentrations of TDCPP and its metabolic product (bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, BDCPP) were measured in the tissues of 5 day post-fertilization (dpf) larvae. There was no effect on locomotion, acetylcholinesterase activity, levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, and expression of mRNAs and proteins related to central nervous system development (e.g., myelin basic protein, α1-tubulin) in any exposure group. However, in adult fish, reductions of dopamine and serotonin levels were detected in the brains of females but not males. Downregulation of nervous system development genes was observed in both the male and female brain tissues. TDCPP concentrations were measured in adult fish tissues including the brain, and greater levels were detected in females. Our results showed that females are more sensitive to TDCPP stress than males in terms of TDCPP-induced neurotoxicity. We demonstrate that long-term exposure to lower concentrations of TDCPP in fish can lead to neurotoxicity.

Occurrence and distribution of conventional and new classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the South China Sea.

Concentrations of 23 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including new classes of PFASs, in seawater samples were investigated for their occurrence and the interaction of the ocean currents with the distribution of PFASs in the South China Sea. This study revealed that socio-economic development was associated with the PFAS contamination in coastal regions of South China. Significant correlations between concentration of total PFASs with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and population density were found in the areas, suggesting that the influence of intense human activities in these areas may have resulted in higher PFAS contamination to the adjacent environment. Di-substituted polyfluoroalkyl phosphate (diPAP), one of the potential replacements for PFASs, was only detected in the heavily developed region, namely Pearl River Delta (PRD). Total PFAS concentrations, ranging from 195 to 4925 pg/L, were detected at 51 sampling stations of the South China Sea. The results also confirmed that PFAS contamination in the South China Sea is strongly affected by the ocean currents. In comparison to perfluoroactane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations measured nine years ago at the same locations, the concentrations in this study were found to be two times higher. This indicated that the use and production of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) has been continuing in the region.

Does wet precipitation represent local and regional atmospheric transportation by perfluorinated alkyl substances?

Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) have been found widely in the environment including remote marine locations. The mode of transport of PFASs to remote marine locations is a subject of considerable scientific interest. Assessment of distribution of PFASs in wet precipitation samples (i.e., rainfall and snow) collected over an area covering continental, coastal, and open ocean will enable an understanding of not only the global transport but also the regional transport of PFASs. Nevertheless, it is imperative to examine the representativeness and suitability of wet precipitation matrixes to allow for drawing conclusions on the transport PFASs. In this study, we collected wet precipitation samples including rainfall, surface snow, and snow core from several locations in Japan to elucidate the suitability of these matrixes for describing local and regional transport of PFASs. Rain water collected at various time intervals within a single rainfall event showed high fluxes of PFASs in the first 1-mm deposition. The scavenging rate of PFASs by wet deposition varied depending on the fluorocarbon chain length of PFAS. The depositional fluxes of PFASs measured for continental (Tsukuba, Japan) and open ocean (Pacific Ocean, 1000km off Japanese coast) locations were similar, on the order of a few nanograms per square meter. The PFAS profiles in "freshly" deposited and "aged" (deposited on the ground for a few days) snow samples taken from the same location varied considerably. The freshly deposited snow represents current atmospheric profiles of PFASs, whereas the aged snow sample reflects sequestration of local sources of PFASs from the atmosphere. Post-depositional modifications in PFAS profiles were evident, suggesting reactions of PFASs on snow/ice surface. Transformation of precursor chemicals such as fluorotelomer alcohols into perfluoroalkylcarboxylates is evident on snow surface. Snow cores have been used to evaluate time trends of PFAS contamination in remote environments. Snow collected at various depths from a core of up to 7.7m deep, at Mt. Tateyama (2450m), Japan, showed the highest concentrations of PFASs in the surface layer and the concentrations decreased with increasing depth for most PFASs, except for perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS). Downward movement of highly water soluble PFASs such as PFBS, following melting and freezing cycles of snow, was evident from the analysis of snow core.

Inter-laboratory trials for analysis of perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoate in water samples: performance and recommendations.

The ISO 25101 (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva) describes a new international standard method for the determination of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in unfiltered samples of drinking and surface waters. The method is based on the extraction of target analytes by solid phase extraction, solvent elution, and determination by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). For the determination of the performance of this method, more than 20 laboratories from 9 different countries participated in an inter-laboratory trial in 2006. In addition, inter-laboratory trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 for the analysis of perfluoroalkylsubstances (PFASs), including PFOS and PFOA, in water samples by following the protocols of Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). Overall, the repeatability coefficients of variation (i.e., within-laboratory precision) for PFOS and PFOA in all water samples were between 3 and 11%, showing a adequate precision of the ISO and JIS methods. The reproducibility coefficients of variation (i.e., between-laboratory precision) were found to vary within a range of 7-31% for surface water and 20-40% for wastewater. The recoveries of PFOS and PFOA, as a measure of accuracy, varied from 84 to 100% for surface water and from 84 to 100% for wastewater among the samples with acceptable criteria for internal standards recovery. The determined concentrations of PFASs in samples compared well with the "true" values. The results of the inter-laboratory trial confirmed that the analytical methods are robust and reliable and can be used as a standard method for the analysis of target compounds in water samples.

Transport of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from an arctic glacier to downstream locations: implications for sources.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been globally detected in various environmental matrices, yet their fate and transport to the Arctic is still unclear, especially for the European Arctic. In this study, concentrations of 17 PFAS were quantified in two ice cores (n=26), surface snow (n=9) and surface water samples (n=14) collected along a spatial gradient in Svalbard, Norway. Concentrations of selected ions (Na(+), SO4(2-), etc.) were also determined for tracing the origins and sources of PFAS. Perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) were the dominant compounds found in ice core samples. Taking PFOA, PFNA and perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS) as examples, higher concentrations were detected in the middle layers of the ice cores representing the period of 1997-2000. Lower concentrations of C8-C12 perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) were detected in comparison with concentrations measured previously in an ice core from the Canadian Arctic, indicating that contamination levels in the European Arctic are lower. Average PFAS concentrations were found to be lower in surface snow and melted glacier water samples, while increased concentrations were observed in river water downstream near the coastal area. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) was detected in the downstream locations, but not in the glacier, suggesting existence of local sources of this compound. Long-range atmospheric transport of PFAS was the major deposition pathway for the glaciers, while local sources (e.g., skiing activities) were identified in the downstream locations.

Ecotoxicology of organofluorous compounds.

Organofluorous compounds have been developed for myriad purposes in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, industry, agriculture, and medicine. The widespread use and application of these compounds has led to increasing concern about their potential ecological toxicity, particularly because of the stability of the C-F bond, which can result in chemical persistence in the environment. This chapter reviews the chemical properties and ecotoxicology of four groups of organofluorous compounds: fluorinated refrigerants and propellants, per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs), fluorinated pesticides, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. These groups vary in their environmental fate and partitioning, but each raises concern in terms of ecological risk on both the regional and global scale, particularly those compounds with long environmental half-lives. Further research on the occurrence and toxicities of many of these compounds is needed for a more comprehensive understanding of their ecological effects.