1
|
McGrath TJ, Saint-Vanne J, Hutinet S, Vetter W, Poma G, Fujii Y, Dodson RE, Johnson-Restrepo B, Muenhor D, Le Bizec B, Dervilly G, Covaci A, Cariou R. Detection of Bromochloro Alkanes in Indoor Dust Using a Novel CP-Seeker Data Integration Tool. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4942-4951. [PMID: 38478960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Bromochloro alkanes (BCAs) have been manufactured for use as flame retardants for decades, and preliminary environmental risk screening suggests they are likely to behave similarly to polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs), subclasses of which are restricted as Stockholm Convention Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). BCAs have rarely been studied in the environment, although some evidence suggests they may migrate from treated-consumer materials into indoor dust, resulting in human exposure via inadvertent ingestion. In this study, BCA-C14 mixture standards were synthesized and used to validate an analytical method. This method relies on chloride-enhanced liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-Orbitrap-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-Orbitrap-HRMS) and a novel CP-Seeker integration software package for homologue detection and integration. Dust sample preparation via ultrasonic extraction, acidified silica cleanup, and fractionation on neutral silica cartridges was found to be suitable for BCAs, with absolute recovery of individual homologues averaging 66 to 78% and coefficients of variation ≤10% in replicated spiking experiments (n = 3). In addition, a total of 59 indoor dust samples from six countries, including Australia (n = 10), Belgium (n = 10), Colombia (n = 10), Japan (n = 10), Thailand (n = 10), and the United States of America (n = 9), were analyzed for BCAs. BCAs were detected in seven samples from the U.S.A., with carbon chain lengths of C8, C10, C12, C14, C16, C18, C24 to C28, C30 and C31 observed overall, though not detected in samples from any other countries. Bromine numbers of detected homologues in the indoor dust samples ranged Br1-4 as well as Br7, while chlorine numbers ranged Cl2-11. BCA-C18 was the most frequently detected, observed in each of the U.S.A. samples, while the most prevalent degrees of halogenation were homologues of Br2 and Cl4-5. Broad estimations of BCA concentrations in the dust samples indicated that levels may approach those of other flame retardants in at least some instances. These findings suggest that development of quantification strategies and further investigation of environmental occurrence and health implications are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J McGrath
- Oniris, INRAE, LABERCA, 44307 Nantes, France
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | | | | - Walter Vetter
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Yukiko Fujii
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Daiichi University of Pharmacy, Fukuoka, 815-8511, Japan
| | - Robin E Dodson
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
| | - Boris Johnson-Restrepo
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Campus of San Pablo, University of Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia
| | - Dudsadee Muenhor
- Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Health Impact Assessment Research Center, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management (HSM), Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li E, Sun Y, Wan Y, Tang S, Wang C, Chang H. Identification and oxidation of chlorinated paraffins containing nitrate esters, aliphatic sulfates, and thioether amino acids in sewage sludges. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 250:121073. [PMID: 38154342 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the extensive production and widespread use of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), various CP structural analogs (CPSAs) have been detected in the environment, and these hydrophobic pollutants preferentially adsorb onto sludge during treatment. However, the species and sources of CPSAs in sludge and their subsequent fate during sludge oxidation treatments remain unclear. In this study, 320 nitrogen- or sulfur-containing CPs (205 CPs-N and 115 CPs-S) were detected in sludge through an analysis of Ph4PCl-enhanced ionization coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS). The intensities of the newly found CPSAs were approximately 3.9-4.1 times those of CPs. Among these CPSAs, 273 previously unknown compounds, namely, 184 CPs-NO3, 63 CPs-SO4H, and 26 CPs-SH, were identified based on the characteristic fragments of NO3, SO4H, and SH, respectively. MS/MS analysis showed that the identified CPs-NO3 included 74 CPs-NO3, 71 CPs-NO3-NH2, 23 CPs-NO3-OH, and 16 CPs-NO3-NH2-OH; CPs-SO4H included 40 CPs-SO4H and 23 CPs-SO4H-OH; and CPs-SH could be divided into 19 2-(methylthio)acetamide-, 6 2-(methylthio)acetamide-cysteine-, and 1 N-acetylcysteine- containing CPs. High abundances of CPs-NO3 and CPs-SO4H were found in both sludge and CP commercial mixtures, indicating that these CPSAs likely originated from the production or use of industrial products. CPs-SH, which were present only in the sludge, were potentially derived from the biotransformation of CPs with amino acids. The oxidation of sludge resulted in the removal of 20.4-60.7 % of the newly identified CPSAs. The oxidation of CPs-NO3 and CPs-SO4H involved both carbon chain decomposition and hydroxylation processes, whereas CPs-SH underwent oxidation through carbon chain decomposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrui Li
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yibin Sun
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yi Wan
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Song Tang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Chao Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Hong Chang
- Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sun Y, Tang S, Li E, Wang C, Chang H, Huang Y, Yang Y, Jiao L, Yan W, Lu Y, Wan Y. Identification of Sulfur-Containing Chlorinated Paraffin Structural Analogues in Human Serum: Origination from Biotransformation or Bioaccumulation? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38324775 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are manufactured and used in high quantities and have diverse structural analogues. It is generally recognized that sulfur-containing structural analogues of CPs are mainly derived from sulfate-conjugated phase II metabolism. In this study, we non-targeted identified three classes of sulfur-containing CP structural analogues (CPs-S) in human serum, including 44 CP sulfates (CPs-SO4H/CPs-SO4H-OH), 14 chlorinated benzene sulfates (CBs-SO4H), and 19 CP sulfite esters (CPs-SO3/CPs-S2O6), which were generated during the production of commercial mixtures of CPs and, thus, bioaccumulated via environmental exposures. We first wrote a program to screen CPs-S, which were baseline-separated from CPs according to their polar functional groups. Then, mass spectral analyses of alkalization-acidification liquid-liquid extracts of serum samples and Orbitrap mass spectrometry analyses in the presence and absence of tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (Ph4PCl), respectively, were performed to determine the ionization forms ([M + Cl]- or [M - H]-) of CPs-S. The presence of fragment ions (SO4H-, SO3-, SO2Cl-, and HSO3-) revealed the structures of CPs-S, which were validated by their detections in commercial mixtures of CPs. The estimated total concentrations of CPs-S in the human serum samples were higher than the concentrations of medium- and long-chain CPs. The profiles of CPs-S in human serum were similar to those detected in CP commercial mixtures and rats exposed to the commercial mixtures, but CPs-S were not detected in human liver S9 fractions or rat tissues after exposure to CP standards. These results, together with the knowledge of the processes used to chemically synthesize CPs, demonstrate that CPs-S in humans originates from environmental bioaccumulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Sun
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Tang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, People's Republic of China
| | - Enrui Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Chang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, College of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixuan Huang
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Yang
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Jiao
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyan Yan
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifu Lu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wan
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Knobloch MC, Hutter J, Diaz OM, Zennegg M, Vogel JC, Durisch E, Stalder U, Bigler L, Kern S, Bleiner D, Heeb NV. Evolution of chlorinated paraffin and olefin fingerprints in sewage sludge from 1993 to 2020 of a Swiss municipal wastewater treatment plant. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140825. [PMID: 38040258 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of humans to chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and chlorinated olefins (COs) can occur via contact with CP-containing plastic materials. Such plastic materials can contain short-chain CPs (SCCPs), which are regulated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention since 2017. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) collect effluents of thousands of households and their sludge is a marker for CP exposure. We investigated digested sewage sludge collected in the years 1993, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2020 from a Swiss WWTP serving between 20000 and 23000 inhabitants. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (R > 100000) method, in combination with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source (LC-APCI-MS), was used to detect mass spectra of CPs and olefinic side products. A R-based automated spectra evaluation routine (RASER) was applied to search for ∼23000 ions whereof ∼6000 ions could be assigned to CPs, chlorinated mono- (COs), di- (CdiOs) and tri-olefins (CtriOs). Up to 230 CP-, 120 CO-, 50 CdiO- and 20 CtriO-homologues could be identified in sludge. Characteristic fingerprints were deduced describing C- and Cl-homologue distributions, chlorine- (nCl) and carbon- (nC) numbers of CPs and COs. In addition, proportions of saturated and unsaturated material were determined together with proportions of different chain length classes including short- (SC), medium- (MC), long- (LC) and very long-chain (vLC) material. A substantial reduction of SCCPs of 84% was observed from 1993 to 2020. Respective levels of MCCPs, LCCPs and vLCCPs decreased by 61, 69 and 58%. These trends confirm that banned SCCPs and non-regulated CPs are present in WWTP sludge and higher-chlorinated SCCPs were replaced by lower chlorinated MCCPs. Combining high-resolution mass spectrometry with a selective and fast data evaluation method can produce characteristic fingerprints of sewage sludge describing the long-term trends in a WWTP catchment area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco C Knobloch
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jules Hutter
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
| | - Oscar Mendo Diaz
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Zennegg
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Jean Claude Vogel
- Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air of the Canton of Zurich AWEL, Water Protection Department, Hardturmstrasse 105, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edith Durisch
- Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air of the Canton of Zurich AWEL, Water Protection Department, Hardturmstrasse 105, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Stalder
- University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Bigler
- University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Kern
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bleiner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert V Heeb
- Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schweizer S, Schulz T, Vetter W. A fast gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode screening method for short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2022; 36:e9382. [PMID: 36001505 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are a group of anthropogenic pollutants that consist of complex mixtures of polychlorinated n-alkanes of different chain lengths (~C10 to C30 ). Persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and long-range transport of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, C10 - to C13 -CPs) have prompted their classification as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention in 2017. Due to the varying chain lengths and chlorination degrees, quantification of SCCPs and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs, C14 - to C17 ) using gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (GC/ECNI-MS-SIM) is not only challenging but also very time consuming. In particular, up to eight GC runs per sample are required for the comprehensive GC/ECNI-MS-SIM quantification of SCCPs and MCCPs. These efforts are high especially if the samples do not contain CPs above the limit of detection (LOD), subsequently. METHODS We developed a semi-quantitative and sensitive method for the examination of SCCPs and MCCPs in one GC run. This GC/ECNI-MS-SIM screening method was based on the recording of Cl- (m/z 35 and 37), Cl2 - (m/z 70 and 72), and HCl2 - (m/z 71 and 73) isotope ions and evaluation of the ratios between them. RESULTS Correctness of the results of the screening method was verified by analysis of edible oils with and without CPs, CP standards, as well as a technical CP mixture. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other polyhalogenated aromatic compounds, as well as brominated flame retardants, do not form all of the fragment ions analyzed by the screening method. CONCLUSIONS After the screening, only CP-positive samples may need to be measured in detail. Measurement time will already be gained in the case of ~10% samples without CPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sina Schweizer
- Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Tobias Schulz
- Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Walter Vetter
- Department of Food Chemistry (170b), University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry, Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Knobloch MC, Mathis F, Diaz OM, Stalder U, Bigler L, Kern S, Bleiner D, Heeb NV. Selective and Fast Analysis of Chlorinated Paraffins in the Presence of Chlorinated Mono-, Di-, and Tri-Olefins with the R-Based Automated Spectra Evaluation Routine (RASER). Anal Chem 2022; 94:13777-13784. [PMID: 36169133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are complex mixtures consisting of various C homologues (nC ≈ 10-30) and Cl homologues (nCl ≈ 2-20). Technical CP mixtures are produced on a large scale (>106 t/y) and are widely used such as plasticizers in plastic and coolants in metalwork. Since 2017, short-chain CPs (C10-C13) are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention but longer-chain CPs are not regulated. Analysis of technical CP mixtures is challenging because they consist of hundreds of homologues and millions of constitutional isomers and stereoisomers. Furthermore, such mixtures can also contain byproducts and transformation products such as chlorinated olefins (COs). We applied a liquid-chromatography method coupled to an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization technique with a high-resolution mass detector (LC-APCI-Orbitrap-MS) to study CP and CO homologues in two plastic materials. Respective mass spectra can contain up to 23,000 signals from 1320 different C-Cl homologue classes. The R-based automated spectra evaluation routine (RASER) was developed to efficiently search for characteristic ions in these complex mass spectra. With it, the time needed to evaluate such spectra was reduced from weeks to hours, compared to manual data evaluation. Unique sets of homologue distributions could be obtained from the two plastic materials. CPs were found together with their transformation products, the chlorinated mono-olefins (COs), di-olefins (CdiOs), and tri-olefins (CtriOs) in both plastic materials. Based on these examples, it can be shown that RASER is an efficient and selective tool for evaluating high-resolution mass spectra of CP mixtures containing hundreds of homologues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco C Knobloch
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Flurin Mathis
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Oscar Mendo Diaz
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Stalder
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Bigler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Kern
- Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bleiner
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert V Heeb
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hanari N, Aoyagi Y, Orihara Y. A reference material (NMIJ RM 4076-a) for the determination of short-chain chlorinated paraffins. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:46273-46281. [PMID: 35165847 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19120-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chlorinated paraffins are primary industrial chemical products used for metalworking fluids and flame retardants. However, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are registered in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Therefore, since an accurate quantitative determination of SCCPs is crucial to monitor the level of pollution, analysis quality assurance with reference materials is needed. In this study, a reference material (RM), NMIJ RM 4076-a, was developed by the National Metrology Institute of Japan at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST) for the quantification of SCCPs. We determined the mass fraction of SCCPs by subtracting the impurities quantified using the mass-balance method, a combination of gas chromatography-flame ionization detection, Karl Fischer titrations, headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The mass fraction value of NMIJ RM 4076-a was concluded to be 0.9996 kg/kg. The standard uncertainty of this mass fraction was evaluated on the basis of the mass-balance method, the sample homogeneity, and stability obtained using the above analytical techniques. Accordingly, the expanded uncertainty estimated using a coverage factor of k = 2 was found to be 0.0013 kg/kg. The mass fraction of chlorine and the homologue compositional ratios are also given for this RM as supplementary technical information. This RM is expected to be applicable for use in the calibration of instruments, or for checking the validity of analytical methods or instruments for estimating the comparability of SCCP analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyasu Hanari
- National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan.
| | - Yoshie Aoyagi
- National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan
| | - Yukari Orihara
- National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Knobloch MC, Sprengel J, Mathis F, Haag R, Kern S, Bleiner D, Vetter W, Heeb NV. Chemical synthesis and characterization of single-chain C 18-chloroparaffin materials with defined degrees of chlorination. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132938. [PMID: 34798110 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Technical chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are produced via radical chlorination of n-alkane feedstocks with different carbon chain-lengths (∼C10-C30). Short-chain CPs (SCCPs, C10-C13) are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. This regulation has induced a shift to use longer-chain CPs as substitutes. Consequently, medium-chain (MCCPs, C14-C17) and long-chain (LCCPs, C>17) CPs have become dominant homologues in recent environmental samples. However, no suitable LCCP-standard materials are available. Herein, we report on the chemical synthesis of single-chain C18-CP-materials, starting with a pure n-alkane and sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2). Fractionation of the crude product by normal-phase liquid-chromatography and pooling of suitable fractions yielded in four C18-CP-materials with different chlorination degrees (mCl,EA = 39-52%). In addition, polar side-products, tentatively identified as sulfite-, sulfate- and bis-sulfate-diesters, were separated from CPs. The new single-chain materials were characterized by LC-MS, 1H-NMR and EA. LC-MS provided Relative retention times for different C18-CP homologues and side-products. Mathematical deconvolution of full-scan mass spectra revealed the presence of chloroparaffins (57-93%) and chloroolefins (COs, 7-26%) in the four single-chain C18-CP-materials. Homologue distributions and chlorination degrees were deduced for CPs and COs. 1H-NMR revealed chemical shift ranges of mono-chlorinated (δ = 3.2-5.3 ppm) and non-chlorinated (δ = 1.0-3.2 ppm) hydrocarbon moieties. The synthesized C18-single-chain standard materials and respective spectroscopic data are useful to identify and quantify LCCPs in various materials and environmental samples. CP- and CO-distributions resemble the ones of existing SCCP and MCCP reference materials and technical mixtures. Furthermore, these materials now allow specific studies on the environmental fate and the transformation of long-chain chloroparaffins and chloroolefins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco C Knobloch
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Jannik Sprengel
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstrasse 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Flurin Mathis
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Regula Haag
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Kern
- Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bleiner
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Walter Vetter
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstrasse 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Norbert V Heeb
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Knobloch MC, Mathis F, Fleischmann T, Kohler HPE, Kern S, Bleiner D, Heeb NV. Enzymatic synthesis and formation kinetics of mono- and di-hydroxylated chlorinated paraffins with the bacterial dehalogenase LinB from Sphingobium indicum. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132939. [PMID: 34800506 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transformation studies of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and the effects of CP transformation products on humans, biota and environment are rare. The focus here is on hydroxylation reactions. As for polyhalogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in general, hydroxylation reactions convert lipophilic material to more polar compounds with increased mobility. We investigated the in-vitro transformation of single-chain CP-mixtures to hydroxylated products with the dehalogenase LinB from Sphingobium indicum. C11-, C12- and C13-single-chain CP-homologues were exposed to LinB and mono-hydroxylated (CP-ols) and di-hydroxylated (CP-diols) transformation products were formed. Liquid-chromatography coupled to mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to detect hydroxylated products and to separate them from the starting material. The presented data can be used to identify these CP-ol and CP-diol homologues in other samples. Hydroxylated products had lower chlorination degrees (nCl) than respective CP-starting-materials. Reactive and persistent CP-material was found in each homologue group. Reactive material is converted within hours by LinB, while more persistent CPs are transformed within days. Homologue-specific kinetic models were established to simulate the stepwise hydroxylation of persistent CPs to mono- and di-hydroxylated products. First-order rate constants for the formation of CP-ols (k1) and CP-diols (k2) were deduced for different homologues. Lower-chlorinated CP-ols did not accumulate to large extent and were transformed quickly to CP-diols, while higher-chlorinated CP-ols and -diols both accumulated. By enzymatic transformation of single-chain CPs with LinB, we synthesized unique sets of mono- and di-hydroxylated materials, which can be used as analytical standards and as starting materials for metabolic, toxicity and environmental fate studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco C Knobloch
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Flurin Mathis
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Fleischmann
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Technology Eawag, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter E Kohler
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Technology Eawag, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Kern
- Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bleiner
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert V Heeb
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fernandes AR, Vetter W, Dirks C, van Mourik L, Cariou R, Sprengel J, Heeb N, Lentjes A, Krätschmer K. Determination of chlorinated paraffins (CPs): Analytical conundrums and the pressing need for reliable and relevant standards. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131878. [PMID: 34416588 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The determination of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) has posed an intractable challenge in analytical chemistry for over three decades. The combination of an as yet unspecifiable number (tens - hundreds of thousands) of individual congeners in mass produced commercial CP mixtures and the steric interactions between them, contrive to defy efforts to characterise their residual occurrences in environmental compartments, food and human tissues. However, recent advances in instrumentation (mass spectrometric detectors and nuclear magnetic resonance), combined with interlaboratory studies, have allowed a better insight into the nature of the conundrums. These include the variability of results, even between experienced laboratories when there is insufficient matching between analytical standards and occurrence profiles, the poor (or no) response of some instrumentation to some CP congener configurations (multiple terminal chlorines or < four chlorines) and the occurrence of chlorinated olefins in commercial mixtures. The findings illustrate some limitations in the existing set of commercially available standards. These include cross-contamination of some standards (complex CP mixtures), an insufficient number of single chain standards (existing ones do not fully reflect food/biota occurrences), lack of homologue group standards and unsuitability of some configurationally defined CP congeners/labelled standards (poor instrument response and a smaller likelihood of occurrence in commercial mixtures). They also indicate an underestimation in reported occurrences arising from those CPs that are unresponsive during measurement. A more extensive set of standards is suggested and while this might not be a panacea for accurate CP determination, it would reduce the layers of complexity inherent in the analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alwyn R Fernandes
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Walter Vetter
- Institute of Food Chemistry, (170b), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Caroline Dirks
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Louise van Mourik
- Department of Environment and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jannik Sprengel
- Institute of Food Chemistry, (170b), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Norbert Heeb
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Anouk Lentjes
- Department of Environment and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Krätschmer
- European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Halogenated POPs in Feed and Food, Bissierstraße 5, 79114, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Knobloch MC, Schinkel L, Kohler HPE, Mathis F, Kern S, Bleiner D, Heeb NV. Transformation of short-chain chlorinated paraffins and olefins with the bacterial dehalogenase LinB from Sphingobium Indicum - Kinetic models for the homologue-specific conversion of reactive and persistent material. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 283:131199. [PMID: 34153917 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Structure, reactivity and physico-chemical properties of polyhalogenated compounds determine their up-take, transport, bio-accumulation, transformation and toxicity and their environmental fate. In technical mixtures of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), these properties are distributed due to the presence of thousands of homologues. We hypothesized that roles of CP dehalogenation reactions, catalyzed by the haloalkane dehalogenase LinB, depend on structural properties of the substrates, e.g. chlorination degree and carbon-chain length. We exposed mixtures of chlorinated undecanes, dodecanes and tridecanes in-vitro to LinB from Sphingobium Indicum bacteria. These single-chain CP-materials also contain small amounts of chlorinated olefins (COs), which can be distinct by mathematical deconvolution of respective mass-spectra. With this procedure, we obtained homologue-specific transformation kinetics of substrates differing in saturation degree, chlorination degree and carbon chain-length. For all homologues, two-stage first-order kinetic models were established, which described the faster conversion of reactive material and the slower transformation of more persistent material. Half-lifes of 0.5-3.2 h and 56-162 h were determined for more reactive and more persistent CP-material. Proportions of persistent material increased steadily from 18 to 67% for lower (Cl6) to higher (Cl11) chlorinated paraffins and olefins. Conversion efficiencies decreased with increasing chlorination degree from 97 to 70%. Carbon-chain length had only minor effects on transformation rates. Hence, the conversion was faster and more efficient for lower-chlorinated material, and slower for higher-chlorinated and longer-chained CPs and COs. Current legislation has banned short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and forced a transition to longer-chain CPs. This may be counterproductive with regard to enzymatic transformation with LinB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco C Knobloch
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Lena Schinkel
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Technology Eawag, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter E Kohler
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Technology Eawag, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Flurin Mathis
- Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Unterstrass 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Kern
- Zürich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Unterstrass 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bleiner
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert V Heeb
- Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology Empa, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
In vitro human cell-based TTR-TRβ CALUX assay indicates thyroid hormone transport disruption of short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain chlorinated paraffins. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:1391-1396. [PMID: 33555371 PMCID: PMC8032603 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-02994-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decades, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (LCCPs) have become the most heavily produced monomeric organohalogen compound class of environmental concern. However, knowledge about their toxicology is still scarce, although SCCPs were shown to have effects on the thyroid hormone system. The lack of data in the case of MCCPs and LCCPs and the structural similarity with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prompted us to test CPs in the novel TTR-TR CALUX assay for their thyroid hormone transport disrupting potential. Four self-synthesized and additionally purified single chain length CP mixtures (C10-CPs, C11-CPs, C14-CPs and C16-CPs) and two each of industrial MCCP and LCCP products were tested in parallel with PFOA. All CP mixtures influenced the TTR binding of T4, giving activities of 1,300 to 17,000 µg/g PFOA equivalents and lowest observable effect concentrations (LOELs) of 0.95 to 0.029 mM/L incubate. Highest activities and lowest LOELs were observed for C16-CPs (48.3% Cl content, activity 17,000, LOEL 0.047 mM/L) and a LCCP mixture (71.7% Cl content; activity 10,000; LOEL 0.029 mM/L). A trend of higher activities and lower LOELs towards longer chains and higher chlorination degrees was implied, but could not be statistically confirmed. Irrespectively, the less well examined and current-use LCCPs showed the highest response in the TTR-TRβ CALUX assay.
Collapse
|
13
|
A simplified screening method for short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in food by gas chromatography-low resolution mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2020; 1631:461574. [PMID: 32987312 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of a simplified screening method for short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively) based on gas chromatography-electron capture negative ionization/mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI/MS) analysis and chlorine content quantification. The response from different combinations of 'indicator' congener groups present in technical mixture standards were used within calibration calculations to test the hypothesis that ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs could be quantified with acceptable accuracy using only a subset of the commonly analysed C10 to C17 and Cl5 to Cl10 groups. Potential combinations were assessed with respect to calibration curve performance and accuracy of SCCP and MCCP analysis of spiked food samples (olive oil, salmon, pork sausage, breakfast cereal, cow's milk and lard). Based on these trials, a screening method which quantifies ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs using only congener groups with 6 and 8 chlorine atoms for each carbon chain length was proposed. Concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in triplicate analyses of spiked food samples calculated using the proposed screening method deviated by ≤ 25% for the vast majority of samples (maximum deviation 37%) from levels determined using all analysed congener groups. The mean trueness of the screening method as applied to each of the spiked food samples and lard samples from a previous European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) interlaboratory study ranged from 65 to 110% for ∑SCCPs and 102 to 175% for ∑MCCPs. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were ≤ 25% for all triplicate analyses and matrix specific LOQs ranged from 0.7 to 6 ng/g ww for ∑SCCPs and from 1.3 to 12 ng/g ww for ∑MCCPs. The proposed screening method has the potential to deliver substantial time savings in instrumental analysis and manual labour without greatly reducing the overall accuracy and sensitivity of SCCP and MCCP quantification.
Collapse
|