Source Identification of Organophosphate Esters through the Profiles in Proglacial and Ocean Sediments from Ny-Ålesund, the Arctic.

Little is known about the sources and environmental behavior of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the Arctic, especially their transformation products. The present study unprecedentedly investigated both 16 tri-OPEs and 8 di-OPEs in proglacial and ocean sediments from Ny-Ålesund, the Arctic. Mean concentrations of tri-OPEs and di-OPEs in proglacial sediments were 487 and 341 pg/g dry weight (dw), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in ocean sediments (1692 and 525 pg/g dw). Ocean sediments might be simultaneously influenced by long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT), oceanic transport, and human activities, whereas proglacial sediments, since they are isolated from human settlements, may be dominantly affected by LRAT. Such source difference was evidenced by the contamination profile of OPEs: chlorinated tri-OPEs with high environmental persistence and high LRAT were dominant in proglacial sediments (66%); however, weakly environmentally persistent and highly hydrophobic aryl tri-OPEs were dominant in ocean sediments (47%), which were plausibly from local emission sources due to their low LRAT potential. Di-OPEs in proglacial and ocean sediments were dominated by groups of parent tri-OPEs with strong photodegradability, such as alkyl (75%) and aryl (58%). A higher mean molar ratio of di-OPE/tri-OPE in the proglacial sediment (14) than that in the ocean sediment (2.2) may be related to its higher photodegradation than that of the ocean sediment.

Long-Range Transport, Trophic Transfer, and Ecological Risks of Organophosphate Esters in Remote Areas.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been a focus in the field of environmental science due to their large volume production, wide range of applications, ubiquitous occurrence, potential bioaccumulation, and worrisome ecological and health risks. Varied physicochemical properties among OPE analogues represent an outstanding scientific challenge in studying the environmental fate of OPEs in recent years. There is an increasing number of studies focusing on the long-range transport, trophic transfer, and ecological risks of OPEs. Therefore, it is necessary to conclude the OPE pollution status on a global scale, especially in the remote areas with vulnerable and fragile ecosystems. The present review links together the source, fate, and environmental behavior of OPEs in remote areas, integrates the occurrence and profile data, summarizes their bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and ecological risks, and finally points out the predominant pollution burden of OPEs among organic pollutants in remote areas. Given the relatively high contamination level and bioaccumulation/biomagnification behavior of OPEs, in combination with the sensitivity of endemic species in remote areas, more attention should be paid to the potential ecological risks of OPEs.

Sucralose and acesulfame as an indicator of domestic wastewater contamination in Wuhan surface water.

Artificial sweeteners (ASs) are applied widely as sucrose substitutes in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal-care products, which results in their release into surface water. The occurrence of ASs in aquatic environments in China has rarely been reported. In this study, we determined the concentration of seven ASs in surface water and sediment samples from 16 lakes in Wuhan. The sum of the ASs concentration ranged from 0.89 to 20.6 µg/L in the surface water, with a mean value of 4.96 ± 5.16 µg/L. The most abundant AS was sucralose (SUC), with a concentration from 0.33 to 18.0 µg/L, followed by acesulfame (ACE) (0.40-2.78 µg/L), saccharin (SAC) (

Direct determination of free state low molecular weight compounds in serum by online TurboFlow SPE HPLC-MS/MS and its application.

The free concentration of low molecular weight compounds (LMWCs) in serum play important roles in both the environmental health and pharmacokinetic fields. A novel and broad spectrum method for direct determination of free LMWCs in serum was established by online TurboFlow SPE HPLC-MS/MS. Macromolecules, including proteins and protein-bound LMWCs, were removed by the TurboFlow SPE column. Meanwhile, free LMWCs were retained on the TurboFlow SPE column and eluted by the mobile phase for HPLC-MS/MS detection. 16 representative LMWCs with low, medium and high affinities to serum proteins were selected for method optimization and validation, and their free concentrations in serum detected by present method showed fairly consistent results with the equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.9714, p < 0.01) and ultrafiltration (r = 0.9054, p < 0.01) method. Then, present method was successfully applied to detect free LMWCs in human serum as well as to evaluate the dissociation constants (Kd) of LMWC-HSA complexes. Kd values of some emerging pollutants, such as 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFEtCHxS and 8:2 diPAP, were firstly evaluated by the present method. The rapid processing time (18 min), small sample amount requirement (25 µL) and convenient operation (direct injection) made present method be promising in studies on the bioavailability, bioaccumulation and elimination of LMWCs in serum, real-time detection of free LMWCs for therapeutic drug monitoring during clinical drug research and development, and the degradation kinetic processes of free LMWCs in serum.

Length-specific occurrence and profile of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in animal protein feeds.

Animal protein supplement feeds (APFs) are susceptible to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and could be the main sources for raised animals, thereafter causing further human exposure through the farm-to-fork pathway. However, the occurrence of PFAAs has been rarely evaluated in various APFs, especially for emerging short-chain PFAAs. In the present study, we collected the most prevalent APFs (blood meal, meat meal, feather meal, soybean meal and DDGS) and found that Σ16PFAAs ranged from undetectable to 37.1 ng/g dry weight (dw) (average: 7.23 ng/g dw). Blood meal contained the highest PFAA levels, and results revealed that some terrestrial-derived APFs might be present at levels on par with the marine-derived feed. Animal-derived APFs (mean 10.9 ng/g dw) possessed higher ∑PFAAs than plant-derived APFs (0.75 ng/g dw). Length-specific PFAA profiles were specified between terrestrial-origin and marine-origin feeds in addition to animal-derived and plant-derived feeds. Short-chain PFAAs (PFBA, PFBS and PFHxS) were primarily found in blood meal, meat meal, soybean meal and DDGS, while the long-chain counterparts dominated in feather meal. It is of great concern that feed exposure to emerging contaminants has not drawn enough attention.