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

Temporal and spatial distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak over the past 30 years

The Baltic Sea has been heavily impacted by harmful and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), with peak emissions occurring between 1960 and 1980. Despite restrictions on their production and use implemented over 40 years ago due to concerns about their threats to marine wildlife and consumers, POPs remain at elevated concentrations. Their persistence in the environment underscores the need for long-term monitoring. This study presents a 30-year (1993-2022) dataset on POP concentrations in Baltic Sea surface sediments, providing insights into their spatial and temporal dynamics. PCB concentrations averaged 3.66 ± 2.89 ng g-1 dw (∑7PCB), with a calculated half-life time of 21.6 ± 1.9 years. DDT and its metabolites showed persistently high concentrations with no observable decrease, while HCB levels exhibited an increase despite regulatory bans. Sediment characteristics in the Baltic Sea were found to strongly influence POP accumulation and redistribution, with shorter residence times at sandy compared to muddy stations. In 5 % of analyzed samples, the most toxic PCB congener PCB118 still exceeds the Environmental Assessment Criteria (EAC) of 0.6 ng g-1 2.5 % TOC. For ∑4DDT, 57 % of samples had a 25-75 % probability of ecological effects, indicating ongoing environmental risks. Global comparisons reveal that POP concentrations in Baltic Sea sediments are comparable to those in other marine regions, reflecting global redistribution processes and ongoing emissions. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the long-term temporal and spatial behavior of POPs in marine sediments following their regulatory ban.

Imprint of incomplete combustion processes on the water column of the anthropogenic-pressured Baltic Sea

This study evaluates the distribution and sources of thermogenic organic matter in the Baltic Sea water column, focusing on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), dissolved black carbon (DBC), and the imprint of thermogenic organic matter on the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool. The spatial patterns and complex interactions between land-based and atmospheric sources were assessed from Kiel Bay to Pomeranian Bight within the water column with the combined targeted and untargeted approaches. The findings emphasize the significant influence of terrestrial inputs from the Oder River and autochthonous production composing DOM. In the Pomeranian Bight, PAH and DBC concentrations strongly correlate with land-based discharge, while shipping emissions play a more prominent role in the Arkona Sea. The sea surface microlayer shows unique characteristics in DOM composition, with potential combustion products as an important source revealed by PAH and DOM analyses. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry identified combustion products, in the DOM pool, providing insights into anthropogenic impacts. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex dynamics of thermogenic organic matter in coastal environments, highlighting the interplay between land-based sources, shipping emissions, and in-situ processes in the Baltic Sea region.

Contaminants of emerging concern in an endangered population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the Baltic Sea

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and pose a range of biological effects including endocrine disruption. Yet, knowledge of their occurrence in wildlife including seabirds remains scarce. We investigated the occurrence of selected bisphenols, benzophenones, phthalate metabolites, benzotriazoles, benzothiazoles, parabens, triclosan, and triclocarban in plasma of 18 breeding female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from an endangered population in the Baltic Sea as most of these CECs have never before been examined in eiders. We sampled blood at the start (T1) and end (T2) of incubation to investigate concentration changes during incubation. As early- and late-breeding eiders tend to differ in how they finance reproduction (local vs stored nutrient reserves), we compared early and late breeders to assess whether CEC concentrations differed by breeding phenology. Of the 58 targeted CECs, 21 were detected in at least one female, with bisphenol A (BPA) and benzophenone-3 (BzP-3) occurring most frequently (T1: 78% and 61%; T2: 61% and 67%, respectively), while mono(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) phthalate (mEHP), BPA, and monoethyl phthalate (mEP) were detected in the highest concentrations (median concentrations 27.1, 12.7, and 11.2 ng/g wet weight, respectively, at T1). No CEC concentrations differed between early and late incubation. Late breeders had significantly higher concentrations of BzP-3, monomethyl phthalate (mMP), and mEP during early incubation (4.55 vs 1.24 ng/g ww, 7.05 vs 3.52, and 11.2 vs < limit of detection (LOD), respectively) and significantly higher concentrations of mMP and mEP during late incubation (6.16 vs  Collapse

Key Words

• Avian
• Blood
• Duck
• Personal care product
• Plasticizer
• UV filter

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Female
• Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
• Endangered Species
• Environmental Monitoring/methods
• Phenols
• Benzhydryl Compounds
• Ducks
• Benzophenones
• Endocrine Disruptors/analysis
• Phthalic Acids

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Affiliation(s)

Amalie V Ask Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland.
Veerle L B Jaspers Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
Junjie Zhang Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
Alexandros G Asimakopoulos Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
Sunniva H Frøyland Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
Juho Jolkkonen Department of Biological and Environmental Science, FI-40014, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Wasique Z Prian Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
Nora M Wilson Ab Bengtskär Oy, FI-25950, Rosala, Finland; Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20500, Turku, Finland
Christian Sonne Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
Martin Hansen Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
Markus Öst Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20500, Turku, Finland
Sanna Koivisto Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, P.O. Box 66, FI-00521, Helsinki, Finland
Tapio Eeva Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
Farshad S Vakili Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
Céline Arzel Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland

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Effects on food intake of Gammarus spp. after exposure to PFBA in very low concentrations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of highly persistent anthropogenic chemicals widely used in many industries. Therefore, they are, ubiquitously present in various types of environments. Despite their omnipresence, ecotoxicological studies of most PFAS are scarce, and those available often assess the effects of long chain PFAS. In this study, we present the results of an exposure experiment in which wild aquatic amphipod Gammarus spp. was exposed to the short chain perfluorinated substance perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) at very low and environmentally relevant concentrations of 0, 10 and 100 ng/L. The exposure lasted for 12 days, and food intake and non-reproductive behavior were analyzed. Exposure to 10 and 100 ng/L PFBA resulted in a lower consumption of food during exposure but no effect on behavior was found.

Phenolic chemistry of the seagrass Zostera marina Linnaeus: First assessment of geographic variability among populations on a broad spatial scale

The variability of the phenolic content of thirteen populations of Zostera marina L. (six narrow-leaved and seven wide-leaved ecotypes) from different geographical zones, i.e., Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, East and West Atlantic, and East Pacific coasts was evaluated. Depending on the location, three to five phenolic acids and nine to fourteen flavonoids were identified of which an undescribed flavonoid sulfate. The phenolic concentrations of the thirteen populations differ among countries and among sites within countries. However, the same individuals were found almost everywhere. Substantial phenolic concentrations were found at all study sites with the exception of Puck Bay (Baltic Sea). Some geographical differences in the flavonoid content were observed. The highest phenolic diversity was found with specimens from the French Atlantic coast and the lowest with the Northeastern American sample (Cape Cod, MA). Regardless of their leaf width, the content of phenolic compounds was found to be similar and mainly characterized by rosmarinic acid and luteolin 7,3'-disulfate. The results demonstrate that geographic origin influences the phenolic composition of Z. marina primarily in terms of concentration, but not in terms of individual compound identity, despite the large geographic scale and the contrasting climatic and environmental conditions associated with it. This work is the first study to consider the spatial variability of phenolic compounds for a seagrass species on a spatial scale covering four bioregions. This is also the first to compare the phenolic chemistry of the two ecotypes of Z. marina.

Accelerated PAH Transformation in the Presence of Dye Industry Landfill Leachate Combined with Fungal Membrane Lipid Changes

The ascomycete fungus Nectriella pironii, previously isolated from soil continuously contaminated by dye industry waste, was used for the biodegradation of phenanthrene (PHE), benz[a]anthracene (B[a]A), and benz[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by N. pironii was accelerated in the presence of landfill leachate (LL) collected from the area of fungus isolation. The rate of cometabolic elimination of PHE and B[a]P in the presence of LL was, respectively, 75% and 94% higher than in its absence. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that PAHs were converted to less-toxic derivatives. The parallel lipidomic study showed changes in membrane lipids, including a significant increase in the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) (almost double) and saturated phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and a simultaneous reduction (twofold) in the content of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and unsaturated PLFAs, which may have promoted the fungus to PHE + LL adaptation. In the presence of PHE, an intense lipid peroxidation (fivefold) was observed, confirming the stabilization of the cell membrane and its extended integrity. Determining the course of elimination and adaptation to harmful pollutants is essential for the design of efficient bioremediation systems in the future.

Application of rapid air sampling and non-targeted analysis using thermal desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry to accidental fire

To be able to gauge the health risks and biological effects of e-waste fires, it is of key importance to know what types and amounts of chemicals are released when they occur. In this case study, we pumped 6-24 L of air from an accidental fire at a recycling depot through a Tenax-TA tube and conducted comprehensive (non-targeted) analysis by thermal desorption/comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD/GC × GC/ToFMS). A special focus was placed on the search for halogenated compounds. More than 5000 components were detected in the atmosphere around the fire; however, component separation was insufficient, even when using GC × GC. The number of organohalogen compounds retrieved was increased about 1.8-fold by the refinement process of the exact mass spectrum using mass defect filtering (MDF) software. After processed by MDF, 386 peaks were concluded to be halogenated compounds. The major retrieved substances included chlorinated (or chlorinated-brominated) dioxins, chlorinated (or brominated) phenols, benzene, and various other halogenated aromatic compounds. Direct comparison of mass spectra was carried out to investigate the potential for qualitative and quantitative comparison of detected peaks without specific identification. The approximate quantitative values are summarized for each compound in the estimated substance group. Their ratios were estimated to be halogenated phenols: 13%, benzenes: 9.6%, dibenzo-p-dioxins: 9.6%, dibenzofurans: 8.4%, biphenyls; 7.4% and toluenes: 6.4%.