Development of diffusive gradients in thin-films technique for monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal waters.

Addressing the challenge of accurately monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic systems, this study employed diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique to achieve methods detection limits as low as 0.02 ng L-1 to 0.05 ng L-1 through in situ preconcentration and determination of time-integrated concentrations. The efficacy of the developed DGT samplers was validated under diverse environmental conditions, demonstrating independence from factors such as pH (5.03-9.01), dissolved organic matter (0-20 mg L-1), and ionic strength (0.0001-0.6 M). Notably, the introduction of a novel theoretical approach to calculate diffusion coefficients based on solvent-accessible volume tailored for PAHs significantly enhanced the method's applicability, particularly for organic pollutants with low solubility. Field deployments in coastal zones validated the DGT method against traditional grab sampling, with findings advocating a 4 to 7-day optimal deployment duration for balancing sensitivity and mitigating lag time effects. These results provide a sophisticated, efficient solution to the persistent challenge of monitoring hydrophobic organic pollutants in aquatic environments, broadening the scope and applicability of DGT in environmental science and providing a robust tool for researchers.

A critical review of distribution, toxicological effects, current analytical methods and future prospects of synthetic musks in aquatic environments.

Synthetic musks (SMs) have gained widespread utilization in daily consumer products, leading to their widespread dissemination in aquatic environments through various pathways. Over the past few decades, the production of SMs has consistently risen, prompting significant concern over their potential adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Although several studies have focused on the development of analytical techniques for detecting SMs in biological samples and cosmetic products, a comprehensive evaluation of their global distribution in diverse aquatic media and biological matrices remains lacking. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the occurrence of SMs in both aquatic and various biological matrices, investigating their worldwide distribution trends, assessing their ecological toxicity, and comparing different methodologies for processing and analysis of SMs. The findings underscore the prevalence of polycyclic musks as predominant SMs, with consumption of various products in different countries leading to contrasting distribution of contaminants. Furthermore, the migration of SMs from sediments to the water phase is investigated, indicating the role of solid-phase reservoirs. Incomplete degradation of SMs in the environment could contribute to their accumulation in aquatic systems, impacting the growth and oxidative stress of aquatic organisms, and having a possibility of genotoxicity to them. Human exposure data highlight substantial risks for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and infants. Moreover, contemporary methods for SMs analysis are presented in this review, particularly focusing on advancements made in the last five years. Finally, research enhancement and critical questions regarding the analysis of SMs are provided, offering suggestions for future research endeavors.

Multi-class organic pollutants in PM2.5 in mixed area of Shanghai: Levels, sources and health risk assessment.

The occurrence of 25 multi-class pollutants comprising phthalate esters (PAEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and synthetic musks (SMs) were studied in PM2.5 samples collected at an industrial/commercial/residential/traffic mixed area in Shanghai during four seasons. During the whole period, a slight exceedance of the PM2.5 annual limit was observed, with an average of 36.8 µg/m3, and PAEs were the most predominant, accounting for >70 % of the studied organic pollutants in PM2.5, followed by PAHs and SMs. Statistically significant differences were observed for the concentrations of PM2.5, PAEs, PAHs, and SMs in winter and summer. This seasonal variation could be derived from anthropogenic activities and atmospheric dynamics. Principal component analysis (PCA) and PAHs ratios suggested a mixed source mainly derived from vehicle emissions and industrial processes. Moreover, gaseous pollutants were also accounted for, indicating the emission of PAHs might accompany the NO2 emission process. Finally, inhalation of PM2.5-bound organic pollutants for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were estimated as average values for each season, showing outside the safe levels in autumn and winter in some cases, suggesting that new policies should be to developed to reduce their emissions and protect human health in this area.