Quantification of alizarin red S uptake in coregonid eggs after mass-marking.

An easy method to measure the uptake rate of the persistent dye alizarin red S (ARS) during marking of whitefish eggs was established and used to measure the ARS content in three different whitefish species during and at the end of the marking procedure. Those values show that only 6-10% of the ARS in the marking solution will be absorbed by the eggs (0.0061-0.0119 mg per egg). Additional analyses 6, 15 and 36 months after marking showed ARS levels below the response level (<6.9 µg kg-1 ).

Evaluation of the bioaccumulation potential of alizarin red S in fish muscle tissue using the European eel as a model.

For fish stock management and large-scale stocking programs, the chemical substance alizarin red S (ARS) is an important tool to mark fish permanently. Equally, for the IUCN red list species European eel (Anguilla anguilla), ARS is proven to be the most promising option for mass marking. ARS binds to calcified structures (i.e., bones and otoliths) and can be detected using a fluorescence microscope. Despite the frequent application of ARS, not only for eels but also for fish in general, until today, no study has evaluated its bioaccumulation potential. Therefore, the German Federal Risk Assessment Authority was unable to classify ARS as harmless because of a potential risk to consumers' health. Using the technique of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, an ARS detection protocol was developed and the bioaccumulation potential of ARS in European eel muscle tissue was estimated. A detection limit of 8.9 µg kg-1 could be reached by optimizing the detection method in fish muscle tissue. In the current study, 250 eels between 6 and 57 cm of total length have been analyzed for ARS between 0 day and 3 years after the marking process. The highest concentration of ARS (6056 µg kg-1) was observed immediately after marking in the smallest length class. Only 1 year after the marking procedure, the ARS concentration was below detection limit. A new method for ARS detection in fish muscle tissue, followed by utilization on marked eels, was able to show that the bioaccumulation of ARS in edible fish muscle was highly unlikely.

Substances of emerging concern in Baltic Sea water: Review on methodological advances for the environmental assessment and proposal for future monitoring.

The Baltic Sea is among the most polluted seas worldwide. Anthropogenic contaminants are mainly introduced via riverine discharge and atmospheric deposition. Regional and international measures have successfully been employed to reduce concentrations of several legacy contaminants. However, current Baltic Sea monitoring programs do not address compounds of emerging concern. Hence, potentially harmful pharmaceuticals, UV filters, polar pesticides, estrogenic compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or naturally produced algal toxins are not taken into account during the assessment of the state of the Baltic Sea. Herein, we conducted literature searches based on systematic approaches and compiled reported data on these substances in Baltic Sea surface water and on methodological advances for sample processing and chemical as well as effect-based analysis of these analytically challenging marine pollutants. Finally, we provide recommendations for improvement of future contaminant and risk assessment in the Baltic Sea, which revolve around a combination of both chemical and effect-based analyses.

Two-dimensional hydrophilic interaction and reversed phase liquid chromatography easily extracted pesticides and polar pesticides multi-residue method--A concept.

We offer a concept for the simultaneous determination of QuEChERS amenable and highly polar pesticides using two-dimensional liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) and polarity switching. First results proved feasibility to determine glyphosate, AMPA, ethephon, glufosinate, MPPA, fosetyl-Al, N-acetyl-glufosinate, N-acetyl-glyphosate and N-acetyl-AMPA including fragments, next to 325 QuEChERS amenable pesticides. We plan to investigate an efficient extraction procedure by either diluting with water or acetonitrile extraction in mini scale without the need for additional clean-up steps. After completion of all experiments, the method will be validated and expanded for further pesticides and organic contaminants. Therefore, we present a concept for a Two-dimensional HILIC Reversed phase Easily Extracted Pesticides and Polar Pesticides (THREEP or 3P(+)) multi-residue method.