Exploring the residential exposome: Determination of hazardous flame retardants in air filter dust from HVAC systems.

Dust is a sink for flame retardants, which are added to a myriad of consumer products in residential spaces. Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are two classes of flame retardants that are frequently used in consumer products and consequently found in dust. In this present work, a novel solvent-limited microextraction technique, which we detailed in a companion study, was applied for the determination of four OPEs and two BFRs with limits of quantitation at the ng/g level by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry from n = 47 air filter dust samples collected from forced air HVAC systems. Levels of the BFRs, including tetrabromobisphenol-A and its derivative tribromobisphenol-A, were found at levels <4 µg/g and not frequently detected. Conversely, all four OPEs were detected in all air filter dust samples. Total OPE load was dominated by tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate, T24DtBPP, a novel OPE not widely examined in the literature. Comparison of individual and total OPE concentrations to residential characteristics revealed statistically significant relationships to location of the home and dominant flooring type. Overall, this study motivates future work in examining the whole house exposome using air filter dust as a passive sampling regime with more examination of T24DtBPP loads within other indoor spaces.

Development of a low-density-solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of tetrabromobisphenol-A from dust.

The development of an alternative dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction protocol utilizing a low-density extraction solvent, toluene, is described here for the extraction of the brominated flame retardant, tetrabromobisphenol-A, from dust prior to selected ion monitoring analysis by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Method parameters of dispersive solvent type and extraction solvent type were optimized. Excellent recovery (88.9%; n = 5 spike replicates) with good precision was achieved in a spike and recovery study. This developed method was utilized to survey tetrabromobisphenol-A concentrations in dust sampled from a local electronics recycling facility from the ambient environment and 20 computer towers undergoing recycling. Concentrations of tetrabromobisphenol-A from dust in computer towers ranged from not detected (n = 2) up to 64 µg/g with a mean value of 11 µg/g and median of 4.1 µg/g tetrabromobisphenol-A. A composite sample of dust collected from the ambient indoor environment was analyzed with a resulting concentration of 36 µg/g. This is the first application of this novel green method for pre-concentrating flame retardants from dust and the first report of tetrabromobisphenol-A concentrations at a U.S.-based electronics recycling facility.

SNaP-C: Validation of a novel, selective silver nanoparticle antioxidant capacity assay for Vitamin C content in beverages.

A validated silver nanoparticle assay (SNaP-C) for quantitation of Vitamin C, as ascorbic acid (AA) and total AA (TAA), was applied to 31 beverages. SNaP-C assay results (LOD of 2.2 mg/L AA) were compared to AA and TAA determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV/Vis (LOD = 0.4 mg/L AA), and two well-known assays. All approaches were calibrated using meta-phosphoric acid stabilized AA, where the reducing agent tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride was added to convert dehydroascorbic acid to AA for determination of TAA. Statistical comparisons of these four resulting datasets were completed. SNaP-C and HPLC were not statistically significantly different (P > 0.05) for comparison of AA and TAA (mg/L) in these samples, whereas the CUPRAC and Folin-Ciocalteu assays statistically significantly overestimated values of AA and TAA content, respectively. The SNaP-C method is a novel assay that has high specificity for AA capable of quantifying TAA with addition of TCEP.

Micro-extraction method for the analysis of flame retardants in dust collected from air filters from HVAC systems.

Dust is a sink for many semi-volatile compounds including flame retardants of the organophosphate ester (OPE) and brominated flame-retardant (BFR) classes. Given the large amount of time that we spend indoors, our exposure to these compounds via dust is of significant interest. Here, we present a novel microextraction approach to determine quantitative levels of selected OPEs and BFRs sampled from residential air filters from HVAC systems using a small volume of solvent. Dust samples (25 mg) is extracted with 1 mL of hexane/acetone (50/50, v/v). Upon solvent extraction of these HVAC dust samples, the analytes (TCPP, TDCPP, TPHP, T24DtBPP, TBBPA, and TriBBPA) were quantified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The methods for extracting these compounds from HVAC dust samples are detailed here with extensive method validation data to demonstrate accuracy and precision of these methods. •Dust is a sink for many semi-volatile compounds, including novel or emerging indoor pollutants like the organophosphate ester flame retardant T24DtBPP.•Here, a small amount of dust (25 mg) is extracted with a small volume of solvent (1 mL hexane and acetone) prior to analysis via chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection.

Headspace versus direct injection for the quantitation of methanol, ethyl acetate, and fusel oils in distilled spirits by gas chromatography - Flame ionization detection.

Distilled spirits can be very complex in their sensory or organoleptic compounds. Of significant interest is determination of the concentration of methanol, ethyl acetate, and fusel oils, which include n-propanol, isobutanol, n-butanol, active amyl (2-methyl-1-butanol) and isoamyl (3-methyl-1-butanol) alcohols. Here, we describe a validated method for the analysis of these analytes using a headspace (HS) sampling unit coupled with a gas chromatograph fitted with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID) for profiling these analytes in distilled spirits (n = 26) obtained from local retailers. HS results were compared to the direct injection (DI) GC/FID protocol made available by the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), method SSD:TM:200 via correlation and Bland-Altman difference plots to demonstrate that HS-GC/FID is a valid alternative to the direct injection protocols described elsewhere. •A method for the analysis of methanol, ethyl acetate, and fusel oils via headspace sampling coupled to a gas chromatograph fitted with a flame ionization detector (HS-GC/FID) is described.•Samples required no pre-treatment beyond diluting 1 mL of distilled spirit in 4 mL water containing table salt, which resulted in a method with minimal inlet or column maintenance, little sample prepration, and a rapid run time with retention times under 7 min.•Validation by comparing to established protocols using direct injection made available by the US Federal Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Dataset of surveyed PFAS in water, sediment, and soil of Fountain Creek Watershed, Colorado, USA.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread and highly persistent organic chemicals with adverse health effects. The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued health advisory limits of 70 ng/L for aqueous concentrations of PFOA + PFOS. In the Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA), metro area, the Widefield Aquifer (groundwater) and Fountain Creek Watershed (surface water) have been contaminated by PFAS from aqueous film-forming foams. Here we present the concentrations of selected linear and branched isomers of legacy PFAS found in surface water (n = 95), soil (n = 83), and sediment (n = 34) samples collected from several creeks of the Fountain Creek Watershed. Collected samples were prepared for high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis via liquid/liquid extraction and/or solid phase extraction (SPE). This dataset includes the geographic locations of sampled creeks, LC/MS/MS instrumental conditions, method verification data including percent recovery to assess method accuracy and background contamination of PFAS in laboratory reagents and supplies, and determined concentrations of PFAS in water, soil, and sediment samples. These locations were surveyed monthly for a full year and provide a rich dataset to assess influence of sampling location, temporal variability in concentration, and overall contaminant persistence.

Analysis of sugars and amino acids in aphid honeydew by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - Mass spectrometry.

Past analyses of sugar and amino acid composition of aphid honeydews have been completed using diverse instrumentation. Here we report the use of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detector for the analysis of seven saccharides (xylose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose and raffinose) and five amino acids (glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid, serine, and asparagine). Limits of quantitation ranged from 0.05 mg/L (melezitose) to 1.0 mg/L (fructose) for sugars and from 0.10 mg/L (glutamic acid) to 3.66 mg/L (asparagine) for amino acids. Sample preparation was fast and simple, requiring only the washing of foils used to collect aphid honeydew with hot (80 °C) water and sonication of samples prior to HILIC/MS/MS analysis for both classes of analytes. No analyte derivatization was required and excellent chromatographic characteristics were observed. For those studying honeydew-mediated interactions in the field, this technique allows for rapid characterization of ecologically important amino acids and sugars.•Composition of seven saccharides in Aphis asclepiadis honeydew including xylose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose,and raffinose, and five standard amino acids including glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid, serine, and asparagine, were analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.•All polar analytes were analyzed without derivatization using HILIC-MS with chromatographic run times of 7 min (sugars) and 10 min (amino acids).

Measles outbreak associated with an international youth sporting event in the United States, 2007.

BACKGROUND: Despite elimination of endemic measles in the United States (US), outbreaks associated with imported measles continue to occur. In 2007, the initiation of a multistate measles outbreak was associated with an imported case occurring in a participant at an international youth sporting event held in Pennsylvania. METHODS: Case finding and contact tracing were conducted. Control measures included isolating ill persons and administering postexposure prophylaxis to exposed persons without documented measles immunity. Laboratory evaluation of suspected cases and contacts included measles serologic testing, viral culture, detection of viral RNA by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and viral genotyping. RESULTS: The index case occurred in a child from Japan aged 12 years. Contact tracing among 1250 persons in 8 states identified 7 measles cases; 5 (71%) cases occurred among persons without documented measles vaccination. Epidemiologic and laboratory investigation supported a single chain of transmission, linking the outbreak to contemporaneous measles virus genotype D5 transmission in Japan. Of the 471 event participants, 193 (41%) lacked documentation of presumed measles immunity, 94 (49%) of 193 were US-resident adults, 19 (10%) were non-US-resident adults (aged >18 years), and 80 (41%) were non-US-resident children. DISCUSSION: Measles outbreaks associated with imported disease are likely to continue in the US. Participants in international events, international travelers, and persons with routine exposure to such travelers might be at greater risk of measles. To reduce the impact of imported cases, high measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine coverage rates should be maintained throughout the US, and support should continue for global measles control and elimination.

Genotyping of measles virus in clinical specimens on the basis of oligonucleotide microarray hybridization patterns.

An oligonucleotide microarray hybridization method for identification of most known measles virus (MV) genotypes was developed. Like the conventional genotyping method, the microarray relied on detecting sequence differences in the 450-nucleotide region coding for the COOH-terminal 150 amino acids of the nucleoprotein (N). This region was amplified using PCR primers binding to all known MV genotypes. The microarray included 71 pairs of oligonucleotide probes (oligoprobes) immobilized on glass slides. Each pair consisted of a genotype-specific oligoprobe, which matched the sequence of only one target genotype, and a control oligoprobe, which contained mismatches at the nucleotide positions unique to this genotype. A pattern recognition algorithm based on cluster analysis of the ratios of hybridization signals from specific and control oligoprobes was used to identify the specific MV genotype. Following the initial validation, the method was used for rapid genotyping of two panels of coded samples. The results of this study showed good sensitivity (90.7%), specificity (100%), and genotype agreement (91.8%) for the new method compared to the results of genotyping conducted using phylogenetic analysis of viral sequences of the C terminus of the N gene. In addition, the microarray demonstrated the ability to identify potential new genotypes of MV based on the similarity of their hybridization patterns with those of known MV genotypes.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: more cases of this fatal disease are prevented by measles immunization than was previously recognized.

BACKGROUND: The most severe sequela of measles virus infection is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal disease of the central nervous system that generally develops 7-10 years after infection. From 1989 through 1991, a resurgence of measles occurred in the United States, with 55,622 cases of measles reported. The purpose of the present study was to identify cases of SSPE that were associated with the resurgence of measles and to calculate the risk of developing SSPE. METHODS: Brain tissue samples obtained from 11 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of SSPE were tested for the presence of measles virus RNA. Measles virus genotypes were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by analysis of the sequences of the PCR products. A search of the literature was conducted to identify reports of cases of SSPE in persons residing in the United States who had measles during 1989-1991. RESULTS: The measles virus sequences derived from brain tissue samples obtained from 11 patients with SSPE confirmed the diagnosis of SSPE. For 5 of the 11 patients with SSPE who had samples tested by RT-PCR and for 7 patients with SSPE who were identified in published case reports, it was determined that the development of SSPE was associated with the measles resurgence that occurred in the United States during 1989-1991. The estimated risk of developing SSPE was 10-fold higher than the previous estimate reported for the United States in 1982. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination against measles prevents more cases of SSPE than was originally estimated.

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay for SARS-associated coronavirus.

A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to rapidly detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The assay, based on multiple primer and probe sets located in different regions of the SARS-CoV genome, could discriminate SARS-CoV from other human and animal coronaviruses with a potential detection limit of <10 genomic copies per reaction. The real-time RT-PCR assay was more sensitive than a conventional RT-PCR assay or culture isolation and proved suitable to detect SARS-CoV in clinical specimens. Application of this assay will aid in diagnosing SARS-CoV infection.