Atmospheric PAHs in rural, urban, industrial and beach locations in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina: sources and health risk assessment.

The first atmospheric PAHs levels and associated inhalation cancer risk were assessed over southwest Buenos Aires region by deploying PUF disk PAS samplers. Eight sampling location included coastal zones, touristic beaches, and rural inland areas were considered. PUF disks were fortified with surrogate standards and extracted by automated Soxhlet prior to GC-MS analysis. Σ16 PAHs ranged from 1.13 to 44.5 ng m-3 (10.3 ± 9.8), while urban locations showed up to 10 times higher PAH levels than rural or beach locations. Direct sources of PAHs, such as intensive vehicle traffic, heating, and general combustion activities, were identified. PAHs with four to six rings (46.62%) were predominantly Flt, Pyr, BbF, and BkF, and carcinogenic risk was expressed by BaP (0.10 ± 0.07 ng m-3) and BaPTEQs (0.26 ± 0.22 ng m-3). Inhalation ECR (2.23E-5, WHO) presented the lowest risk at beach locations. Molecular ratios and PCA showed a strong dominance in pyrolytic sources, such as biomass and coal combustion, with a particular signature in fires at inland locations. Overall, this study demonstrated that PUF disk passive air sampling provided a sound and simple approach for tracking air PAHs, their sources and public health risks, bringing a cost-effective tool for pollution control measures, even at small and remote towns. This is particularly relevant in extensive countries with medium or low income, such as Argentina.

Occurrence of marine plastic litter and plasticizers from touristic beaches of Arauco Gulf in Central Chile.

Marine plastic litter (MPL) was collected from beaches (n = 3) of the Arauco Gulf in central Chile in spring 2021 and summer 2022. MPL was analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, and plasticizers were also screened using FTIR-ATR. Three hundred seventeen plastic items with an accumulated weight of 226.8 g were found. MPL densities ranged from 0.4 to 17.1 items m-2. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between seasons were observed for Arauco and Maule beaches, being ∼ten times higher in summer compared to spring. Solid pieces were the predominant shape, macroplastics were the most abundant (>2.5 cm), and white and blue colors were dominant. Polypropylene (52 %) and polyethylene (31 %) were the predominant polymers. Plasticizers (n = 3) were detected in the MPL in the study area (dioctyl phthalate, polybutene, and alpha-methylstyrene) for the first time. This study contributes new information related to MPL in coastal areas of central Chile and their chemical composition.

Large-scale spatiotemporal variations, sources, and risk assessment of banned OCPs and PAHs in suspended particulate matter from the Negro river, Argentina.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) threaten the environment due to their wide environmental resistance. Environmental paradigms coexist along the Negro River (NR) in Argentina, South America, which flows to the sea below the latitude of 40o S; however, this is the first environmental assessment of OCPs and PAHs in water of the NR for more than 15 years. With 21 sampling sites covering a range of 600 km of river extension, we assessed 16 OCPs and 16 PAHs in suspended particulate material (SPM) with regard to their levels, seasonality, sources, and potential biological risk assessment. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detection, we found an overall mean value for Σ16 OCPs of 648.56 ng. g-1, d.w. Despite a ban spanning 25 years, an increasing trend of accumulation of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and endosulfan was shown in the lower valley. The ɑ-HCH/ɤ-HCH and ß-HCH/(ɑ + É¤)-HCH ratios indicated a prevalent usage of technical HCH over lindane and recent HCH inputs. The most abundant compound, α-endosulfan, averaged 141.64 ng. g-1, d.w. and DDX (Σ 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDD, and 4,4'-DDT) averaged 99.98 ng. g-1, d.w. Winter OCP loads in the NR reflected the runoff of the heaviest pesticide application period. We estimated the total discharge of DDT into the Atlantic ocean was 96 g.day-1, added to 458 g of HCHs and 257 g of endosulfans (ɑ + ß + epoxide) adsorbed by the SPM. PAHs occurred widely along the river (38.83 ± 43.52 µg. g-1) and the highest levels coincided with locations with marked anthropogenic-related activity, such as petroleum/gas exploitation facilities. Risk quotient analysis showed a low risk posed by OCPs, but a high risk of potential effects on biota posed by the PAHs, highlighting the need for mitigation measures.

Microplastic levels on sandy beaches: Are the effects of tourism and coastal recreation really important?

This study assessed the effect of tourism and other recreational activities on microplastic (MP) levels and their characteristics in the sand and surf zone of the seawater. Six sites were chosen belonging to three sandy beaches with similar geomorphologic and morphodynamic characteristics but with different tourism activities. On average, a concentration of 1133.3 ± 811.3 items/kg dry weight (d.w.) and 12.7 ± 14.9 items/m3 were found in the sand and seawater samples, respectively. Fibers and films predominated and were less than 1 mm in length. In the sand, the films mainly matched the PE polymer spectra and the fibers matched PET polymer, cotton, and indigo blue dye; in the seawater samples, PP films and PET fibers prevailed. At the Pehuén-Co - Monte Hermoso Coastal Marine MPA where the flow of tourists is low, the MP levels were the lowest and the largest particles were found, mainly blue or black fibers, with less polymer diversity, cotton and PET being the most prevalent suggesting a recent input of textile fibers to this site. Moreover, the highest concentration of MPs was found on the southern site of a beach considered to be more pristine due to negligible human activity, including the smallest size pattern, mostly composed of white films or fibers with a greater diversity of polymers, predominantly PE > PET > PP. A great occurrence of PVC white films was also found in the surf zone at this site. Proximity to the mouth of a river, littoral drift, and other point sources were identified as the main sources, indicating that, apart from the local tourism and recreational activities, other sources might play a major role in the input of MPs to sandy beaches, such as extensive/intensive agricultural land use and irrigation areas.

Beached microplastics at the Bahia Blanca Estuary (Argentina): Plastic pellets as potential vectors of environmental pollution by POPs.

Microplastics (MPs) from the coastal areas of a highly anthropised estuary were sampled to assess their distribution in coastal sediments and their role as potential vectors of pollution. The average MP density was 1693 ± 2315 MPs/kg, which mainly accumulated in the high tide and storm berm areas of the beach. The Microplastic Pollution Index (MPPI), Microplastic Impact Coefficient (CMPI), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis revealed spatial variation in MPs pollution. High-density polyethylene plastic pellets were abundant at two beaches (192 ± 218 MPs/kg sediment). Furthermore, the presence of sorbed chemicals on pellets was assessed through GC-MS, showing 0.95 ± 0.09 ng/g of ∑7OCPs, 4.03 ± 0.89 ng/g of ∑7PCBs, 108.76 ± 12.88 ng/g of ∑16 PAHs and 122.79 ± 11.13 g/g of ∑29 PAHs. The sorption capacity of plastics, combined with their abundance, poses an environmental concern and also highlights their suitability as indicators of chemical exposure.

Presence, distribution, and origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina.

This paper is the first comprehensive survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal sediments in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, and provides useful information on their levels of concentration, composition, and sources of these pollutants. The total concentrations of PAHs ranged from 15 to 10,260 ng g(-1). The highest contents (mean 3,315 ng g(-1)) of total PAHs in marine sediments were found in the inner channels of the estuary, while the lower ones (204 ng g(-1)) belong to samples collected far away from contamination sources. The global average recorded in this study (1,500 ng g(-1)) indicates that the studied area lies within the referenced category of industrialized coastal zones under chronic pollution. The diagenetic PAH contribution was found to be negligible at all sampled locations; however, the calculation of molecular ratios determined an overimposition of pyrolitic PAHs over the petrogenic input. Further, the use of principal components analysis (PCA) clearly separated ring group compounds and enabled the determination of pyrolitic/combustion PAHs dominancy.

Persistent organic pollutants sorbed in plastic resin pellet - "Nurdles" from coastal areas of Central Chile.

Plastic resin pellets were collected from coastal areas (n = 7) of central Chile. Pellets were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for polymer identification and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) determination. Screened compounds were PBDEs (n = 10), PCBs (n = 7), and OCPs (n = 13). Pellets were only found at Lenga Beach (San Vicente Bay), which is likely influenced by the presence of industrial activities in the surrounding coastal area. The diameter of the pellets was 4.0 ± 0.6 cm (n = 370), the color varied from white (32%) to yellowing (68%), and the most prevalent polymer identified was high-density polyethylene (99%). POPs concentrations (ng/g-pellet) ranged from 10 to 133 for Æ©10PBDEs, from 3 to 60 for Æ©7PCBs and between 0.1 and 7 for DDTs. Levels of POPs are consistent with other investigations around the world and highlight the sorbtion capacity of plastics resin pellets, and consequently transport of POPs into coastal environments.

Tracking polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments and soils from the southwest of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (South eastern part of the GRULAC region).

PCBs and PBDEs (7 and 10 congeners, respectively) were analyzed in four coastal surface sediments collected from the northern shore of Bahía Blanca estuary and in nine soils from different locations of Bahía Blanca city and the surrounding region (Southwest of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Sediment samples showed PCBs(Σ7) concentrations ranged from 0.61 to 17.6ngg-1 (dry weight=dw) and PBDEs(Σ10) from 0.16 to 2.02ngg-1 dw, whereas in soil samples ranged from 0.04 to 1.67ngg-1 dw for PCBs(Σ7) and 0.04 to 10.7ngg-1 dw for PBDEs(Σ10). The highest concentrations of both chemicals were detected in the urban and industrial/port areas showing a dominance of the higher chlorinated PCB congeners: in sediments for PCB-180 (56±33%) and PCB-153 (11±6%); and in soils for PCB-138 (23±3%), PCB-153 (22±2%) and PCB-180 (18±7%). In contrast, lower chlorinated PCB congeners were predominant at more distant sites; in sediments for congeners PCB-28 (33±4%) and PCB-52 (14.5±0.2%); and in soils PCB-28 (56±14%) and PCB-52 (33±19%). PBDE-209 (high brominated PBDE) showed the highest relative abundance in both sample types i.e., sediment (94±7%) and soil (80±12%). These findings can be considered lower or similar when compared with other sites of the world, and are likely associated with anthropogenic activities in their surrounding area, which has experienced a fast industrial growth in the last decade. This is the first investigation of PBDEs levels in the whole study area and of PCBs in soils from the Bahía Blanca city and surrounding region. This article provides new and useful information on POP levels in the South eastern part of the GRULAC region.

Application of solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to the determination of butylated hydroxytoluene in bottled drinking water.

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is an antioxidant utilized as additive in foods and packaging plastic. Its presence in drinking water is possible if it is used as an antioxidant in the packaging plastic because it may migrate into the package's contents. A method for the determination of BHT in water by means of solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed and evaluated with respect to the time of fiber exposure, limits of detection and quantitation, linearity and precision. Finally, the method was applied to evaluate the presence of this substance in samples of mineral and mineralized bottled drinking water, and it appeared to be present in seven out of a total of fifteen commercial brands.

Butyltin compounds in sediments of the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina.

Systematic measurements of both Tributyltin (TBT) and Dibutyltin (DBT) in sediments along different locations in the inner zone of Bahía Blanca estuary were done. Two samples were taken near the main dry dock facility, at Puerto Belgrano naval base, in Argentina. TBT concentrations from non-detected to 170.3 ng Sn g(-1) were measured in the inner region of the estuary, and higher one of 3,288 ng Sn g(-1) near the dry dock at Puerto Belgrano. DBT values ranging between non-detected and 75.2 ng Sn g(-1) were obtained along the principal channel, but extreme concentration of 1,645 ng Sn g(-1) was measured at Puerto Belgrano. These values show that this estuary is affected by organotin pollution, mainly in areas of heavy shipyard activities.