Bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone (BCPS) concentrations found in Austrian freshwater fish and cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) indicating trophic transport and biomagnification - A screening pilot-study.

Bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone (BCPS, CAS No. 80-07-9) is used as monomer for the production of several groups of polymers like polysulphones and polyethersulphones. Residual amounts of monomer remain in the polymer matrix and might migrate out from the polymer matrix. In the present study, freshwater fish and fish-eating birds were examined. Following fish species (top predators) were collected at two Austrian locations: Sander lucioperca, Silurus glanis, and Lota lota. Whole fish samples were analysed for BCPS. Levels in freshwater fish ranged between 1.3 and 9.3 ng/g fat. In addition, breast muscle and liver samples from six cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) were investigated. BCPS levels in cormorants breast muscle were in the range of 4.3-40 ng/g fat (mean: 16.3 ng/g fat, n = 6) and 28-86 ng/g fat (mean: 53.5 ng/g fat, n = 6) in the liver samples. BCPS concentration in liver was 3.3-fold higher than in muscle tissue. One of the cormorants had ingested fish with a BCPS level of 5.5 ng/g fat; BCPS levels in the cormorant were 23 ng/g fat (breast muscle) and 28 ng/g fat (liver), suggesting biomagnification values (BMF) of 4.2 (fish/breast muscle) and 5.1 (fish/liver), respectively. A BMF value higher than 1 can be considered as an indication for very high biomagnification. Comparing the BCPS concentrations of cormorants' breast muscle from 2019 (mean: 16 ng/g fat) to the concentrations from 2001 to 2005 (mean: 8.9 ng/g fat), indicates that BCPS levels might be increasing in Europe.

Determination of selected organophosphate esters in the aquatic environment of Austria.

Organophosphate esters are used in multitude of applications such as flame retardants, plasticizers and lubricants. In recent years concerns have been raised in regards to the environmental impact of some of the more commonly used phosphoric acid triesters, because many of them are toxic and persistent. Liquid-liquid extraction and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) were used for the determination of nine priority organophosphate esters in waste and surface water, as well as in sediment samples for first time in Austria. Recoveries ranged from 63% to 94% in water and from 74 to 104% in sediment with estimated quantification limits between 2.6 and 7.9 ng/l in surface water, 4.1 and 13 ng/l in effluent waste water, and between 0.48 and 11 microg/kg in sediment. The validated method was applied to determine the occurrence of the selected organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and plasticizers in the aquatic environment of Austria. The impact of the discharge of waste water treatment plants into the receiving water bodies was also studied.

Determination of selected quaternary ammonium compounds by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Part II. Application to sediment and sludge samples in Austria.

Soxhlet extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection (MS/MS) was used for the determination of selected quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in solid samples. The method was applied for the determination of alkyl benzyl, dialkyl and trialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds in sediment and sludge samples in Austria. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.6 to 3 microg/kg for sediments and from 2 to 5 microg/kg for sewage sludges. Mean recoveries between 67% and 95% are achieved. In general sediments were especially contaminated by C12 chain benzalkonium chloride (BAC-C12) as well as by the long C-chain dialkyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC-C18) with a maximum concentration of 3.6 mg/kg and 2.1mg/kg, respectively. Maxima of 27 mg/kg for DDAC-C10, 25 mg/kg for BAC-C12 and 23 mg/kg for BAC-C14 were determined for sludge samples. The sums of the 12 selected target compounds range from 22 mg/kg to 103 mg/kg in the sludge samples.

Determination of selected quaternary ammonium compounds by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Part I. Application to surface, waste and indirect discharge water samples in Austria.

A method for simultaneous quantitative determination of alkyl benzyl, dialkyl and trialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) has been developed, validated and subsequently applied to real water samples in Austria. The method employs liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) followed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), using electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive mode. The overall method quantification limits range from 4 to 19ng/L for the enrichment of 500mL water samples and analyte recoveries are between 80 and 99%. The method was applied to 62 of the respective water samples without filtration to avoid the loss of the analytes due to the high adsorption capacity of these compounds. Maxima in the mg/L range, especially in the wastewater of hospitals and laundries, could be detected for the selected target compounds.

Method optimization for determination of selected perfluorinated alkylated substances in water samples.

In recent years perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) have appeared as a new class of global pollutant. Besides being an industrially important group of compounds, PFAS are regarded as highly toxic and extraordinarily persistent chemicals that pervasively contaminate human blood and wildlife throughout the world. They are therefore regarded as PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic) chemicals. Two comprehensive methods have been developed for determination of eleven of the most environmentally relevant PFAS (seven perfluoroalkylcarboxylates, two perfluoroalkylsulfonates, and two perfluoroctanesulfonamides) in aqueous samples. The compounds were isolated by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE), and identification and quantification of the target analytes were achieved by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS). With LLE detection limits ranged from 0.26 to 0.62 ng L(-1) for enrichment of 900-mL water samples; recovery of PFAS with a carbon chain longer than C7 was excellent (80-93%). With SPE, carboxylates with carbon chains