[Chemical constituents from roots of Kadsura heteroclita].

The dichloromethane fraction of Kadsura heteroclita roots was separated and purified by chromatographic techniques(e.g., silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, MCI column chromatography) and semi-preparative HPLC. Twenty compounds were isolated from K. heteroclita, and their structures were identified by NMR, MS, UV, and X-ray single crystal diffraction techniques. Twenty compounds were isolated from K. heteroclita, which were identified as xuetongdilactone G(1), mallomacrostin C(2), 3,4-seco(24Z)-cychmrt-4(28),24-diene-3,26-dioic acid 3-methyl ester(3), nigranoic acid(4), methyl ester schizanlactone E(5), schisandronic acid(6), heteroclic acid(7), wogonin(8),(2R,3R)-4'-O-methyldihydroquercetin(9), 15,16-bisnor-13-oxo-8(17),11E-labdadien-19-oic acid(10), stigmast-4-ene-6ß-ol-3-one(11), psoralen(12),(1R,2R,4R)-trihydroxy-p-menthane(13), homovanillyl alcohol(14), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanol(15), coniferaldehyde(16),(E)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-methylbut-8-en-9-one(17), acetovanillone(18), vanillic acid(19) and vanillin(20). Compound 1 is a new compound named xuetongdilactone G. Compounds 2-3 and 8-20 are isolated from K. heteroclita for the first time.

Evaluation of phthalate migration potential in vacuum-packed.

In recent years, the presence and migration of PAEs in packaging materials and consumer products has become a serious concern. Based on this concern, the aim of our study is to determine the possible migration potential and speed of PAEs in benthic fish stored in vacuum packaging, as well as to monitor the storage time and type as well as polyethylene (PE) polymer detection.As a result of the analysis performed by µ-Raman spectroscopy, 1 microplastic (MP) of 6 µm in size was determined on the 30th day of storage in whiting fish muscle and the polymer type was found to be Polyethylene (PE) (low density polyethylene: LDPE). Depending on the storage time of the packaging used in the vacuum packaging process, it has been determined that its chemical composition is affected by temperature and different types of polymers are formed. 10 types of PAEs were identified in the packaging material and stored flesh fish: DIBP, DBP, DPENP, DHEXP, BBP, DEHP, DCHP, DNOP, DINP and DDP. While the most dominant PAEs in the packaging material were determined as DEHP, the most dominant PAEs in fish meat were recorded as BBP and the lowest as DMP. The findings provide a motivating model for monitoring the presence and migration of PAEs in foods, while filling an important gap in maintaining a safe food chain.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) in corals of the South China Sea: Occurrence, distribution, and bioaccumulation.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have garnered significant attention in recent years. In view of the enormous ecosystem services value and severe degradation of coral reefs in the South China Sea, this study investigated the occurrence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of 11 OPEs in five coral regions: Daya Bay (DY), Weizhou Island (WZ), Sanya Luhuitou (LHT), Xisha (XS) Islands, and Nansha (NS) Islands. Although OPEs were detected at a high rate, their concentration in South China Sea seawater (1.56 ± 0.89 ng L-1) remained relatively low compared to global levels. All OPEs were identified in coral tissues, with Luhuitou (575 ± 242 ng g-1 dw) showing the highest pollution levels, attributed to intense human activities. Coral mucus, acting as a defense against environmental stresses, accumulated higher ∑11OPEs (414 ± 461 ng g-1 dw) than coral tissues (412 ± 197 ng g-1 dw) (nonparametric test, p < 0.05), and their compositional characteristics varied greatly. In the case of harsh aquatic environments, corals increase mucus secretion and then accumulate organic pollutants. Tissue-mucus partitioning varied among coral species. Most OPEs were found to be bioaccumulative (BAFs >5000 L kg-1) in a few coral tissue samples besides Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP). Mucus' role in the bioaccumulation of OPEs in coral shouldn't be ignored.

Delay in the fine-tuning of locomotion in infants with meconium positive to biomarkers of alcohol exposure: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal alcohol exposure causes a variety of impairments to the fetus called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Since it is very difficult to identify women that consume alcohol during pregnancy, different methods have been studied to evaluate alcohol exposure. Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters (FAEEs) are commonly used to measure alcohol consumption in individuals at-risk for alcohol abuse, including pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a study of two cohorts of 1.5 year-old infants (of mothers without a history of alcohol abuse) with or without meconium samples positive to both EtG and FAEEs and we evaluated their cognitive-behavioral development by the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale (GMDS) method. Our protocol included 8 infants with meconium positive to alcohol metabolites (EtG and FAEEs) and 7 with meconium negative to alcohol metabolites. RESULTS: None of the 8 alcohol metabolites positive meconium infants exhibited distinctive facial features and growth retardation of severe FASD, showing that other factors may contribute to the FASD onset but elevations in EtG and FAEEs in the meconium were significantly associated with disrupted neurodevelopment and adaptive functions within the first year and a half of life. Indeed, we found out that infants with meconium positive for both EtG and FAEEs, although without displaying any FASD morphological features, had a delay in the fine regulation of their own locomotory capabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Further analyses and larger studies are needed to estimate the right link between prenatal alcohol exposure and the different range of disorders connected but this study provides an additional step in the field of FASD in order to suggest early treatments for at-risk newborns and infants.

Bioaccessibility of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in settled dust: Influences of specific dust matrices from informal e-waste and end-of-life vehicle processing areas in Vietnam.

Bioaccessibility of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphorus esters (OPEs) is necessarily investigated to provide more accurate risk assessment and information about absorption behavior of these pollutants. In this study, total and bioaccessible concentrations of HFRs (including legacy and alternative substances) and OPEs were determined in settled dust samples collected from Vietnamese e-waste and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing areas. Concentrations of both HFRs and OPEs were significantly higher in the e-waste dust than ELV dust. Bioavailability of HFRs and OPEs in dust was determined by using an in vitro assay with human-simulated digestive fluids, dialysis membrane, and Tenax® TA sorptive sink. Bioaccessibility of HFRs was markedly lower than that of OPEs, which could be largely due to higher hydrophobicity of HFRs compared to OPEs. Bioaccessibility of almost hydrophobic compounds were markedly lower in the e-waste dust (containing micronized plastic debris) than in the ELV dust (containing oily materials), suggesting the influence of specific dust matrices on pollutant bioaccessibility. Although the daily uptake doses of selected HFRs and OPEs from dust were markedly higher in the e-waste sites compared to the ELV sites, the direct exposure risk was not significant. Our results suggest that bioaccessibility can partly explain the differences between dust and uptake profiles, which may relate to accumulation profiles of HFRs and OPEs in human samples.

Temporal evolution of plastic additive contents over the last decades in two major European rivers (Rhone and Rhine) from sediment cores analyses.

Although global plastic distribution is at the heart of 21st century environmental concerns, little information is available concerning how organic plastic additives contaminate freshwater sediments, which are often subject to strong anthropogenic pressure. Here, sediment core samples were collected in the Rhone and the Rhine watersheds (France), dated using 137Cs and 210Pbxs methods and analysed for nine phthalates (PAEs) and seven organophosphate esters (OPEs). The distribution of these organic contaminants was used to establish a chronological archive of plastic additive pollution from 1860 (Rhine) and 1930 (Rhone) until today. Sediment grain size and parameters related to organic matter (OM) were also measured as potential factors that may affect the temporal distribution of OPEs and PAEs in sediments. Our results show that OPE and PAE levels increased continuously in Rhone and Rhine sediments since the first records. In both rivers, ∑PAEs levels (from 9.1 ± 1.7 to 487.3 ± 27.0 ng g-1 dry weight (dw) ± standard deviation and from 4.6 ± 1.3 to 65.2 ± 11.2 ng g-1 dw, for the Rhine and the Rhone rivers, respectively) were higher than ∑OPEs levels (from 0.1 ± 0.1 to 79.1 ± 13.7 ng g-1 dw and from 0.6 ± 0.1 to 17.8 ± 2.3 ng g-1 dw, for Rhine and Rhone rivers, respectively). In both rivers, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most abundant PAE, followed by diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), while tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) was the most abundant OPE. No relationship was found between granulometry and additives concentrations, while organic matter helps explain the vertical distribution of PAEs and OPEs in the sediment cores. This study thus establishes a temporal trajectory of PAEs and OPEs contents over the last decades, leading to a better understanding of historical pollution in these two Western European rivers.

Organophosphate ester additives and microplastics in benthic compartments from the Loire estuary (French Atlantic coast).

We report the first empirical confirmation of the co-occurrence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) additives and microplastics (MPs) in benthic compartments from the Loire estuary. Higher median concentrations of MPs (3387 items/kg dw), ∑13tri-OPEs (12.0 ng/g dw) and ∑4di-OPEs (0.7 ng/g dw) were measured in intertidal sediments with predominance of fine particles, and under higher anthropogenic pressures, with a general lack of seasonality. Contrarily, Scrobicularia plana showed up to 4-fold higher ∑tri-OPE concentrations in summer (reaching 37.0 ng/g dw), and similar spatial distribution. Polyethylene predominated in both compartments. Tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), its degradation metabolite (BEHP) and tris-(2-chloro, 1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCIPP) were the most abundant OPEs in sediments, while TCIPP predominated in S. plana. The biota-sediment accumulation factors suggest bioaccumulation potential for chlorinated-OPEs, with higher exposure in summer. No significant correlations were generally found between OPEs and MPs in sediments suggesting a limited role of MPs as in-situ source of OPEs.

Analysis and remediation of phthalates in aquatic matrices: current perspectives.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are high production volume chemicals used extensively as plasticizers, to increase the flexibility of the main polymer. They are reported to leach into their surroundings from plastic products and are now a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Phthalate levels have been determined in several environmental matrices, especially in water. These levels serve as an indicator of plasticizer abuse and plastic pollution, and also serve as a route of exposure to different species including humans. Reports published on effects of different PAEs on experimental models demonstrate their carcinogenic, teratogenic, reproductive, and endocrine disruptive effects. Therefore, regular monitoring and remediation of environmental water samples is essential to ascertain their hazard quotient and daily exposure levels. This review summarises the extraction and detection techniques available for phthalate analysis in water samples such as chromatography, biosensors, immunoassays, and spectroscopy. Current remediation strategies for phthalate removal such as adsorption, advanced oxidation, and microbial degradation have also been highlighted.

Lipid Metabolic Disorders Induced by Organophosphate Esters in Silver Carp from the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River fishery resources have declined strongly over the past few decades. One suspected reason for the decline in fishery productivity, including silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), has been linked to organophosphate esters (OPEs) contaminant exposure. In this study, the adverse effect of OPEs on lipid metabolism in silver carp captured from the Yangtze River was examined, and our results indicated that muscle concentrations of the OPEs were positively associated with serum cholesterol and total lipid levels. In vivo laboratory results revealed that exposure to environmental concentrations of OPEs significantly increased the concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, and total lipid levels. Lipidome analysis further confirmed the lipid metabolism dysfunction induced by OPEs, and glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids were the most affected lipids. Hepatic transcriptomic analysis found that OPEs caused significant alterations in the transcription of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Pathways associated with lipid homeostasis, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signal pathway, cholesterol metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis, were significantly changed. Furthermore, the affinities of OPEs were different, but the 11 OPEs tested could bind with PPARγ, suggesting that OPEs could disrupt lipid metabolism by interacting with PPARγ. Overall, this study highlighted the harmful effects of OPEs on wild fish and provided mechanistic insights into OPE-induced metabolic disorders.

[Microbial Mechanisms of Removal of Phthalic Acid Esters in Purple Soils Revealed Using Metagenomic Analysis].

The removal mechanisms of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) have attracted much attention because of their endocrine-disrupting properties and persistence in environmental media. In order to reveal the removal mechanism of PAEs and involved keystone taxa and functional genes, purple soils were polluted by di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), respectively, along a gradient of 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg·kg-1 and cultured for 90 days in the dark. The results showed that the degradation dynamics of DBP and DEHP were well-fitted by the first-order kinetic model, and the half-life of DBP and DEHP ranged from 17.0 to 38.2 days. The degradation rate of DBP (5 mg·kg-1) was the fastest, and that of DEHP (20 mg·kg-1) was the slowest. The soil samples of the seventh day and the fifteenth day were analyzed using metagenomic sequencing. NMDS and cluster analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the bacterial community structure of soil samples from the seventh day and the fifteenth day. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria increased from the seventh day to the fifteenth day. The smaller the half-life of DBP or DEHP, the higher the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the different treatments. In addition, Streptomyces was the dominant genus in all polluted soils. Co-occurrence network analysis elucidated that Pandoraea was a keystone genus of the soil bacterial communities, which could be used to indicate the pollution levels of DBP and DEHP. The results of KEGG annotation demonstrated that Pandoraea was responsible for benzoate degradation, quorum sensing, ABC transporters, and the two-component system and could promote the intercellular communications and the microbial growth and proliferation and maintain the stability of the community structure. Therefore, the degradation rate of DBP and DEHP in purple soils depended on their initial content and their own properties. Actinobacteria played an important role in the PAEs degradation, and Pandoraea played a major part in promoting PAEs degradation and regulating the stability of the structure and function of degrading bacterial communities.

Pollution characteristics, sources, and health risks of phthalate esters in ambient air: A daily continuous monitoring study in the central Chinese city of Nanchang.

In recent years, the atmospheric pollution caused by phthalate esters (PAEs) has been increasing due to the widespread use of PAE-containing materials. Existing research on atmospheric PAEs lacks long-term continuous observation and samples from cities in central China. To investigate the pollution characteristics, sources, and health risks of PAEs in the ambient air of a typical city in central China, daily PM2.5 samples were collected in Nanchang from November 2020 to October 2021. In this study, the detection and quantification of six significant PAE contaminants, namely diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), were accomplished using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results revealed that the concentrations of DEP, DnBP, DEHP, and DnOP were relatively high. Higher temperatures promote the volatilization of PAEs, leading to an increase in the gaseous and particulate PAE concentrations in warm seasons and winter pollution scenarios. The results of principal component analysis show that PAEs mainly come from volatile products and polyvinylchloride plastics. Using positive matrix factorization analysis, it is shown that these two sources contribute 67.0% and 33.0% in atmosphere PAEs, respectively. Seasonally, the contribution of volatile products to both gaseous and particulate PAEs substantially increases during warm seasons. The residents in Nanchang exposed to PAEs have a negligible non-cancer risk and a potential low cancer risk. During the warm seasons, more PAEs are emitted into the air, which will increase the toxicity of PAEs and their impact on human health.

Occurrence and risk assessment of glycidyl and 3-monochloropropanediol esters in infant formulas marketed in Taiwan.

Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPDEs) are process contaminants commonly found in refined edible oils which are often added to infant formulas. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) launched regulations for GEs in infant formulas that went into effect on 1 July 2021. To investigate levels of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in infant formula powder, 45 products were sampled and analysed during 2020-2021. The contents of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in formulas of different brands significantly varied, but their concentrations in all of the formulas complied with European Union (EU) regulations. Infant formulas containing palm oil had significantly higher 3-MCPDE levels in both extracted oils and milk powder than those without palm oil. Concentrations of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in infant formula powder and extracted oils were significantly lower in products from Europe than those from Australia and New Zealand. Infants aged 0-1 years in Taiwan who consumed only infant formula showed a margin of exposure (MoE) exceeding 25,000. Mean consumer exposures to 3-MCPDEs stayed below the tolerable daily intake (TDI), while high exposures at the 95th percentile (P95) exceeded the TDI by 1.7-fold. Herein, we present the changing trends in the risk assessment results of infant formula across various countries in the decade. Implementation of regulations and mitigation strategy effectively reduced the risk of infants being exposed to GEs and 3-MCPDEs through infant formula.

Phthalate ester levels in agricultural soils of greenhouses, their potential sources, the role of plastic cover material, and dietary exposure calculated from modeled concentrations in tomato.

Soil samples collected from 50 greenhouses (GHs) cultivated with tomatoes (plastic-covered:24, glass-covered:26), 5 open-area tomato growing farmlands, and 5 non-agricultural areas were analyzed in summer and winter seasons for 13 PAEs. The total concentrations (Σ13PAEs) in the GHs ranged from 212 to 2484 ng/g, wheeas the concentrations in open-area farm soils were between 240 and 1248 ng/g. Σ13PAE in non-agricultural areas was lower (35.0 - 585 ng/g). PAE exposure through the ingestion of tomatoes cultivated in GH soils and associated risks were estimated with Monte Carlo simulations after calculating the PAE concentrations in tomatoes using a partition-limited model. DEHP was estimated to have the highest concentrations in the tomatoes grown in both types of GHs. The mean carcinogenic risk caused by DEHP for tomato grown in plastic-covered GHs, glass-covered GHs, and open-area soils were 2.4 × 10-5, 1.7 × 10-5 and 1.1 × 10-5, respectively. Based on Positive Matrix Factorization results, plastic material usage in GHs (including plastic cover material source for plastic-GHs) was found to be the highest contributing source in both types of GHs. Microplastic analysis indicated that the ropes and irrigation pipes inside the GHs are important sources of PAE pollution. Pesticide application is the second highest contributing source.

Organophosphate triesters and their diester degradation products in the atmosphere-A critical review.

Organophosphate triesters (tri-OPEs) have found substantial use as plasticizers and flame retardants in commercial and industrial products. Despite upcoming potential restrictions on use of OPEs, widespread environmental contamination is likely for the foreseeable future. Organophosphate diesters (di-OPEs) are known biotic or abiotic degradation products of tri-OPEs. In addition, direct use of di-OPEs as commercial products also contributes to their presence in the atmosphere. We review the available data on contamination with tri-OPEs and di-OPEs in both indoor and outdoor air. Concentrations of tri-OPEs in indoor air exceed those in outdoor air. The widespread discovery of tri-OPE traces in polar regions and oceans is noteworthy and is evidence that they undergo long-range transport. There are only two studies on di-OPEs in outdoor air and no studies on di-OPEs in indoor air until now. Current research on di-OPEs in indoor and outdoor air is urgently needed, especially in countries with potentially high exposure to di-OPEs such as the UK and the US. Di-OPE concentrations are higher at e-waste dismantling areas than at surrounding area. We also summarise the methods employed for sampling and analysis of OPEs in the atmosphere and assess the relative contribution to atmospheric concentrations of di-OPEs made by environmental degradation of triesters, compared to the presence of diesters as by-products in commercial triester products. Finally, we identify shortcomings of current research and provide suggestions for future research.

Enhancement of ester biosynthesis in blueberry wines through co-fermentation via cell-cell contact between Torulaspora delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

This study investigated the effects of co-fermentation of T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae on the volatile composition and sensory characteristics of blueberry wines. Mixed fermentation led to higher levels of terpenes, higher alcohols, and esters compared to wines fermented with each yeast individually. Conversely, when T. delbrueckii were physically separated from S. cerevisiae in the double-compartment fermenter, contrasting outcomes emerged. The stronger fruity aroma induced by mixed fermentation were linked to higher ester concentrations, including isoamyl acetate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl hexanoate, and diethyl succinate. The enhanced esters in mixed fermentation can be attributed to the upregulated alcohol acyltransferase activity and the expressions of ACC1, FAS2, ELO1 and ATF1 genes in late fermentation stage via the cell-cell contact between T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae. These findings can deepen the understanding of the interaction between non-Saccharomyces and S. cerevisiae in ester production, assisting wineries in effectively controlling wine aroma through mixed fermentations.

Simultaneous quantification of endogenous biomarkers and detection of testosterone esters in human serum using gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been demonstrated to be an alternative platform for quantitative analyses, identifying unknown compounds and gathering information for the elucidation of chemical structures. This work describes a method to detect 13 esters of testosterone (T) and 5 biomarkers in 0.1 mL of human serum using gas chromatography (GC) coupled to HRMS. METHODS: Analytes were extracted from serum after deproteinization and liquid-liquid extraction. The trimethylsilyl derivatives were analyzed using a gas chromatograph coupled to HRMS at low electron energy to minimize molecule fragmentation. The acquisition in profiling full-scan mode was applied with a resolving power of 30 000 at m/z 400. Linearity, lower limit of quantitation, and measurement uncertainty were assessed. Precision and accuracy were assessed at 0.5 and 2 ng/mL, respectively. Mass accuracy (MA) and mass extraction window (MEW) were also evaluated. RESULTS: T esters showed a linear response between 0.25 and 10 ng/mL (except for undecanoate, enanthate, and propionate that showed lineal responses between 0.5 and 10 ng/mL and isocaproate between 2 and 10 ng/mL); detection limits remained between 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL and accuracy between 81% and 119%. The MA (MEW = 10 ppm) was maintained between -2.4 and 4.8 ppm. The biomarkers (T, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], estradiol, and 17-OH-progesterone) showed a linear response within the evaluated range; quantification limits remained between 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL (except for DHEA), the accuracy between 88% and 99%, and precision between 3.5% and 10.8%. Measurement uncertainties were found between 5.6% and 17.2%. MA (MEW = 3 ppm) was maintained between -0.47 and 0.12 ppm. CONCLUSIONS: The method to detect T esters and five endogenous biomarkers in serum using GC coupled to HRMS showed linear responses up to 10 ng/mL with adequate precision, accuracy, and uncertainties. It was possible to distinguish cholesterol from T-isocaproate based on the MEW of 10 ppm, preventing false positives. In addition, this method allows searching for other biomarkers and/or unknown metabolites and other ester forms not included here but at a later stage if necessary.

Ester-related volatile compounds reveal the diversity and commonalities of different types of late-ripening peaches.

To recognize the key ester-related volatile compounds, 5 types of peaches including 54 late-ripening peach materials were examined by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and E-nose. Here, a large number of esters were identified to be released by ripe peach fruits and were mainly characterized by fruity, green, and fatty notes. The variety and content of esters had greatly changed within or between cultivars, indicating that the fruit volatiles were highly differentiated depending on the specific genotypes and cultivation conditions. The ester types showed that fatty acid-derived C6 alcohols and methyl-/ethyl- short-chain alcohol were the main ester precursors, which were more likely to be utilized and well selected by alcohol acyltransferases, whereas the preference of acyl donors was not observed. The common peach type, which exhibited a unique volatile profile, displayed broader diversity and more abundant characteristics in ester-related volatiles than the other four types. A total of 19 key esters were identified as the main components and the content of most esters showed no significant difference among different peach types. Some key esters had even been enriched in nectarines. Moreover, the multiple discriminant analysis revealed a possible relationship between peach types and the domestication of the peach evolution. This study investigated ester-related volatiles released by different types of peach fruits and can be further used to evaluate the peach qualities, providing an important reference for peach breeding and processing.

Development and validation of a GC Orbitrap-MS method for the analysis of phthalate esters (PAE) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) in atmospheric particles and its application for screening PM2.5 from Curitiba, Brazil.

Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAE) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) are ubiquitous chemicals often used as plasticisers and additives in many industrial products and are classified as both persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and new emerging pollutants (NEPs). Exposure to these chemicals, especially through inhalation, is linked to a wide range of negative health effects, including endocrine disruption. Air particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm can be enriched with PAEs and DEHA and if inhaled can cause multi-system human toxicity. Therefore, proper monitoring of PAEs and DEHA in PM is required to assess human exposure to these pollutants. In this work, we developed and validated a new and sensitive gas-chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) method for targeted analysis of PAEs including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), in PM. Analytical aspects including sample preparation steps and GC-HRMS parameters, e.g., quadrupole isolation window, to enhance method sensitivity have been assessed. The estimated limit of detection (LODs) of target PAEs and DEHA ranged from 5.5 to 17 pg µL-1, allowing their trace-level detection in PM. Extraction efficiencies of 78-101% were obtained for the target compounds. Low DMP and DEP extraction efficiencies from the spiked filter substrates indicated that significant losses of higher volatility PAEs can occur during the sample collection when filter-based techniques are used. This work is the first targeted method based on GC-Orbitrap MS for PAEs and DEHA in environmental samples. The validated method was successfully applied for the targeted analysis of PAEs and DEHA in PM2.5 samples from the eighth most populous city in Brazil, Curitiba. This work is the first to report DBP, DEHA, DEHP, and DOP in urban PM from Brazil. The observed concentrations of PAEs (up to 29 ng m-3) in PM2.5 from Curitiba may not represent the extent of pollution by these toxic compounds since the analysed samples were collected during a COVID-19 restriction when anthropogenic activities were reduced.

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.

First determination of elevated levels of plastic additives in finless porpoises from the South China Sea.

Plastic additives, such as organophosphate esters (OPEs) and phthalate esters (PAEs), are raising public concerns due to their widespread presence and potential health risks. Nonetheless, the occurrences and potential health risks of these additives in marine mammals remain limited. Here, we first investigated the accumulation patterns and potential risks of OPEs and metabolites of PAEs (mPAEs) in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises inhabiting the northern South China Sea (NSCS) during 2007-2020. The average hepatic concentrations of ∑15OPEs and ∑16mPAEs in the NSCS finless porpoises were 53.9 ± 40.7 and 98.6 ± 54.8 ng/g ww, respectively. The accumulation of mPAEs and OPEs in the finless porpoises is associated with the chemical structures of the compounds. ∑5halogenated-OPEs were the most dominant category (62.6%) of ∑15OPEs, followed by ∑6aryl-OPEs (25.9%) and ∑6nonhalogenated alkyl-OPEs (11.5%). The accumulation of mPAEs displayed a declining trend with increasing alkyl side chain length (C0-C10). Although the hepatic burden of mPAEs in finless porpoises was sex-independent, some OPEs, including TDCIPP, TBOEP, TCIPP, TCrP, TPHP, and TDBPP, exhibited significantly higher concentrations in adult males than in adult females. TDBPP, as a new-generation OPE, exhibited a gradual increase during the study period, suggesting that TDBPP should be prioritized for monitoring in the coastal regions of South China. The estimated hazard quotient indicated that almost all mPAEs and OPEs pose no hazard to finless porpoises, with only DEHP presenting potential health risks to both adult and juvenile finless porpoises.