Recycled tire rubber materials in the spotlight. Determination of hazardous and lethal substances

One way of recycling end-of-life tires is by shredding them to obtain crumb rubber, a microplastic material (<0.5 mm), used as infill in artificial turf sports fields or as playground flooring. There is emerging concern about the health and environmental consequences that this type of surfaces can cause. This research aims to develop an analytical methodology able to determine 11 compounds of environmental and health concern, including antiozonants such as N-1,3-dimethylbutyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) or N, N´-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (DPPD), and vulcanization and crosslinking agents, such as N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide (CBS), 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) or hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) from tire rubber. Ultrasound assisted extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UAE-LC-MS/MS) is validated demonstrating suitability. The methodology is applied to monitor the target compounds in forty real crumb rubber samples of different origin including, football pitches, outdoor and indoor playgrounds, urban pavements, commercial samples, and tires. Several alternative infill materials, such as sand, cork granulates, thermoplastic elastomers and coconut fibres, are also collected and analysed. All the target analytes are identified and quantified in the crumb rubber samples. The antiozonant 6PPD is present at the highest concentrations up to 0.2 % in new synthetic fields. The tire rubber-derived chemical 6PPD-quinone (2-((4-methylpentan-2-yl)amino)-5-(phenylamino)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione), recently linked to acute mortality in salmons, is found in all types of crumb rubber samples attaining concentrations up to 40 μg g-1 in football pitches. The crosslinking agent HMMM is detected in most of the playing surfaces, at concentrations up to 36 μg g-1. The tested infill alternatives are free of most of the target compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the largest study considering the target compounds in tire rubber particles and the first to focus on these compounds in playgrounds including the analysis of HMMM, 6PPD-quinone and DTG in crumb rubber used as an infill material.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of multiclass herbicides in soil

An analytical methodology based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the identification and quantification of 9 authorized herbicides in soil (dimethenamid-P, imazamox, S-metolachlor, nicosulfuron, pendimethalin, prosulfuron, bentazone, terbuthylazine, and mesotrione). Preliminary experiments dealing with solvent extraction, the extraction technique, and herbicide response comparison in soil, with and without organic amendments, were carried out with the purpose of obtaining high sample throughput and sensitivity. UAE and the solvent mixture water:methanol demonstrated higher efficiency and they were selected as sample treatment and extraction solvent, respectively. Critical parameters affecting UAE were optimized by experimental design. In the present research, the extraction technique used in the official EPA microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) methodology (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and UAE optimized methodology were compared. The results indicated that the developed method showed better efficacy since microwave extraction gave very poor responses for nicosulfuron and prosulfuron. The temperature extraction was also optimized; room temperature was the most suitable to work with. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed UAE-LC-MS/MS method was assessed in terms of linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9912), accuracy (recoveries around 100%), and precision (relative standard deviation, RSD < 13%). The absence of significant matrix effects allowed quantification in real samples by external calibration with standards prepared in water:methanol. Method sustainability was also evaluated using the metric tool AGREEPrep. Finally, the analysis of real contaminated samples revealed the presence of 7 out of the 9 studied herbicides with S-metolachlor at high concentrations in all samples.

Allergens and Other Harmful Substances in Hydroalcoholic Gels: Compliance with Current Regulation

Hydroalcoholic gels or hand sanitisers have become essential products to prevent and mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. Depending on their use, they can be classified as cosmetics (cleaning the skin) or biocides (with antimicrobial effects). The aim of this work was to determine sixty personal care products frequently found in cosmetic formulations, including fragrance allergens, synthetic musks, preservatives and plasticisers, in hydroalcoholic gels and evaluate their compliance with the current regulation. A simple and fast analytical methodology based on solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS/MS) was validated and applied to 67 real samples. Among the 60 target compounds, 47 of them were found in the analysed hand sanitisers, highlighting the high number of fragrance allergens (up to 23) at concentrations of up to 32,458 μg g-1. Most of the samples did not comply with the labelling requirements of the EU Regulation No 1223/2009, and some of them even contained compounds banned in cosmetic products such as plasticisers. Method sustainability was also evaluated using the metric tool AGREEPrep, demonstrating its greenness.

Development of Analytical Methods to Analyze Pesticide Residues

Pesticides are compounds applied on crops to eliminate or control pests, diseases and weeds and it is known that their use provides unquestionable benefits in increasing agricultural production [...].

Assessment of the bioaccessibility of PAHs and other hazardous compounds present in recycled tire rubber employed in synthetic football fields

Recycled tire crumb rubber (RTCR) surfaces contain harmful and carcinogenic substances, which can be ingested by the users of these facilities, mainly athletes and children. In this work, the potential in-vitro oral bioaccessibility of eighteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from RTCR employed as infill in synthetic football fields was studied in human synthetic body fluids (saliva, gastric, duodenal and bile), prepared according the Unified Bioaccessibility Method. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) using commercial sorbents and a new green material based on cork (cork industry by-product) were used to isolate the bioaccessible PAHs before gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The method was optimized and validated attending the analytical figures of merit. The feasibility of cork biosorbent for the extraction of the compounds was demonstrated, as well as the suitability of the UBM method to perform the digestion with good precision. The application to real samples collected from football fields demonstrated the presence of 17 of the 18 target PAHs in the biofluids. Most volatile PAHs such as NAP, ACY, ACE, FLU, PHN and ANC, achieved the highest bioaccessibility percentage levels. The carcinogenic B[a]P was detected in 75 % of the samples at concentrations up to 2.5 ng g^-1 (bioaccessible fraction). Children exposure assessment was carried out to identify potential risk. Other hazardous and environmentally problematic compounds such as N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-quinone), recently related with the dead of coho salmon, and hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM), among others, were also detected. This is the first study in which the bioaccesibility from real crumb rubber samples of 15 out of the 16 PAHs considered as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the presence of 6PPD-quinone and HMMM in the bioaccessible fractions is reported.

Complementarity of two approaches based on the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the determination of multi-class antibiotics in water. Photodegradation studies and non-target screenings

The development of analytical methodologies to monitor different antibiotic families in water and the implementation of alternatives for their efficient elimination are a great challenge. The aim of this research was to develop a method based on solid-phase extraction followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyse multi-class antibiotics, including macrolides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides and diaminopyrimidines, in waters. Several parameters affecting the extraction such as the sample pH, type of sorbent and cartridge, elution volume and breakthrough volume were optimized. The method was validated in real samples, and matrix effect was assessed, demonstrating that the use of isotopically labelled surrogate compounds was mandatory to avoid standard addition calibration for each individual samples. Urban and hospital wastewater samples, as well as natural waters, were analysed, confirming the presence of 12 of the 14 target compounds at concentrations up to 3.5 µg L^-1. Non-target analysis based on data-independent workflow was also performed, enabling the identification of 94 pollutants. Preliminary photodegradation experiments were also assessed, revealing the total removal of many target compounds after the first 5-10 min of UVC irradiation. In addition, 20 by-products formed after photolysis could be identified using a non-target approach.

Global evaluation of the chemical hazard of recycled tire crumb rubber employed on worldwide synthetic turf football pitches

Social and environmental concern about the use of crumb rubber from end-of-life car tires in the construction of different sport and recreational facilities is increasing due to the presence of hazardous compounds. The aim of this research was the assessment of 42 organic chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, adipates, antioxidants and vulcanisation agents in a large number of infill samples (91) from synthetic turf football pitches of diverse characteristics and geographical origin. Samples were taken worldwide, in 17 countries on 4 continents, to show the global dimension of this problem. Ultrasound assisted extraction was employed to extract the target compounds, followed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem-mass spectrometry (UAE-GC-MS/MS). Seventy-eight crumb rubber samples as well as thirteen samples of alternatives materials, such as cork granulates, thermoplastic elastomers and coconut fibre, were analyzed. The results highlight the presence of all target PAH in most rubber samples at concentrations up to μg g^-1, including the eight ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) PAHs considered as carcinogenic, and anthracene (ANC), pyrene (PYR) and benzo[ghi]perylene (B[ghi]P), catalogued as substances of very high concern (SVHC). Endocrine disruptors such as some plasticizers (mainly phthalates), and other compounds like benzothiazole (BTZ) and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBTZ) were found reaching the mg g^-1 level. This confirms the presence of the hazardous substances in the recycled crumb rubber samples collected all around the world. Three crumb rubber samples exceeded the limit of 20 μg g^-1 for the sum of the eight ECHA PAHs. Regarding the chemical composition of other infill alternatives, cork appears to be adequate, while the thermoplastic elastomers contained high levels of some plasticizers. In addition, the plastic infill as well as the crumb rubber both are microplastics. Microplastics are considered contaminants of emerging concern since they do not biodegrade and remain in the environment for a long time.

Evaluating the Presence and Contents of Phytochemicals in Honey Samples: Phenolic Compounds as Indicators to Identify Their Botanical Origin

Honey is a natural product well known for its beneficial properties. It contains phytochemicals, a wide class of nutraceuticals found in plants, including compounds with highly demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant capacities as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The main goal of this work is the development of a miniaturized and environmentally friendly methodology to obtain the phenolic profile of Galician honeys (Northwest Spain) from different varieties such as honeydew, chestnut, eucalyptus, heather, blackberry and multi-floral. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) were also evaluated. As regards sample preparation, miniaturized vortex (VE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) employing aqueous-based solvents were performed. Individual quantification of 41 target phenolic compounds was carried out by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results revealed the presence of 25 phenolic compounds in the 91 analyzed samples, reaching concentrations up to 252 µg g⁻¹. Statistical tools such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to obtain models that allowed classifying the different honeys according to their botanical origin. Obtained results, based on TPC, AA and ∑phenolic compounds showed that significant differences appeared depending on the honey variety, being several of the identified phenol compounds being responsible of the main differentiation.

Occurrence of Fungicides in Vineyard and the Surrounding Environment

Seventeen fungicides were determined in different matrices from vineyard areas, including vine leaves, soils, grapes and water, using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). For leaf analysis, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was performed evaluating different solvents. UAE was compared with other extraction techniques such as vortex extraction (VE) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD). The performance of the UAE method was demonstrated on vine leaf samples and on other types of samples such as tea leaves, underlining its general suitability for leaf crops. As regards other matrices, soils were analyzed by UAE and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), grapes by UAE and waters by SPE using cork as the sorbent. The proposed method was applied to 17 grape leaf samples in which 14 of the target fungicides were detected at concentrations up to 1000 μg g⁻¹. Furthermore, the diffusion and transport of fungicides was demonstrated not only in crops but also in environmental matrices.

Evaluation of chemicals of environmental concern in crumb rubber and water leachates from several types of synthetic turf football pitches

Nowadays concern exists about the safety for both football players and the environment of recycled tire rubber used as infill in synthetic turf football pitches. In this study 40 target compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), plasticizers, antioxidants and vulcanization agents were determined in 50 synthetic football pitches of diverse characteristics to estimate environmental risks. This is the first study of crumb rubber sport facilities in Portugal. Analyses were performed by ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UAE-GC-MS/MS). To evaluate the transfer of the target chemicals from the crumb rubber to the runoff water, water leachates collected from several football pitches were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME-GC-MS/MS). In addition, lab-scale runoff simulation experiments were performed to assess whether a persistent inflow of the target compounds from the football pitches into the runoff water wcould exist. Results revealed the presence of most of the target PAHs in crumb rubber at total concentrations up to 57 μg g^-1, next to a high number of plasticizers and vulcanization agents. Runoff water collected from the football pitches contained up to 13 PAHs as well as other chemicals of environmental concern. In addition, continuous leaching of chemicals from the crumb rubber to the surrounding water was demonstrated. The transfer of target chemicals into the runoff water poses a potential risk for the aquatic environment.

Miniaturized active air sampling method for the analysis of tire rubber pollutants from indoor and outdoor places

An effective, quick, and sustainable air analysis method was developed to analyze 41 volatiles and semivolatile organic compounds present in tire rubber and crumb rubber materials. The proposed method, based on active sampling using a sorbent material followed by an ultrasound assisted extraction, was developed with the aim of obtaining a fast and simple procedure to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, antioxidants, and vulcanization agents in air. A small amount of sorbent (25 mg) was used, and the analytes were recovered in only 1 mL of solvent. An experimental design was applied to study the influence of main factors such as type of sorbent and type of solvent, extraction technique (ultrasound-assisted extraction and vortex extraction), extraction time, as well as the factor interactions. Under optimal conditions, no breakthrough occurs in the studied interval (up to 4 m³ ). Linearity was demonstrated in a wide concentration range. Accuracy of the total sampling-extraction analysis was evaluated obtaining satisfactory recoveries as well as good precision. The method was successfully applied to different outdoor and indoor air environments, including a recycled rubber synthetic turf football pitch.

Hazardous compounds in recreational and urban recycled surfaces made from crumb rubber. Compliance with current regulation and future perspectives

Crumb rubber obtained from scrap tires is greatly employed for the construction of different facilities for sport, recreational and other uses. However, in recent years the concern about their safety and the related adult and children exposure to these surfaces is growing. This study aims a thorough chemical characterization encompassing 42 hazardous compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, adipates, antioxidants and vulcanization agents in a wide range of crumb rubber from different surfaces. For the extraction of the target compounds, a method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UAE-GC-MS/MS) has been validated. Forty crumb rubber samples coming from synthetic turf football pitches, outdoor and indoor playgrounds, urban pavements, commercial tiles and granulates, and scrap tires, were analyzed. In addition, green alternative materials, such as sand and artificial turf based on cork granulate infill were included to compare the levels of the target compounds with those of crumb rubber. Most of the analyzed recycled surfaces meet the recent limits proposed by the European Commission for rubber granulates and mulches, although they exceed in several cases the maximum levels allowed for rubber consumer products. Besides, most of the other target compounds, including several of them considered as endocrine disruptors, were detected in the analyzed samples, reaching parts per million concentrations.

Combined (d)SPE-QuEChERS Extraction of Mycotoxins in Mixed Feed Rations and Analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

The objective of this work was the development of a methodology capable of simultaneously determine 26 mycotoxins in mixed feed rations collected in 20 dairy farms. A sample preparation methodology based on a combination of (d)SPE and QuEChERS extractions was used. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was employed for both identification and quantification purposes. To this respect, a powerful workflow based on data-independent acquisition, consisting of fragmenting all precursor ions entering the mass spectrometer in narrow m/z isolation windows (SWATH), was implemented. SWATH data file then contains all the information that would be acquired in a multitude of different experimental approaches in a single all-encompassing dataset. Analytical method performance was evaluated in terms of linearity, repeatability and matrix effect. Relative recoveries were also measured, giving values above 80% for most compounds. Matrix-matched calibration was carried out and enabled reaching the low ng mL-1 level for many mycotoxins. The observed matrix effect, in most cases suppressive, reached even values higher than 60%. The repeatability was also adequate, showing a relative standard deviation lower than 10%. All unified samples analyzed showed co-occurrence of two or more mycotoxins, recurrently zearalenone, fumonisin B1, and β-zearalenol, with an occurrence frequency ranging from 60% to 90%.

Fabric phase sorptive extraction for the determination of 17 multiclass fungicides in environmental water by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid environmental pollution screening and monitoring workflow based on fabric phase sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (FPSE-GC-MS/MS) is proposed for the first time for the analysis of 17 widespread used fungicides (metalaxyl, cyprodinil, tolylfluanid, procymidone, folpet, fludioxonil, myclobutanil, kresoxim methyl, iprovalicarb, benalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, fenhexamid, tebuconazole, iprodione, pyraclostrobin, azoxystrobin and dimethomorph) in environmental waters. The most critical parameters affecting FPSE, such as sample volume, matrix pH, desorption solvent and time, and ionic strength were optimized by statistical design of experiment to obtain the highest extraction efficiency. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed FPSE-GC-MS/MS method was validated in terms of linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, accuracy and precision. To assess matrix effects, recovery studies were performed employing different water matrices including ultrapure, fountain, river, spring, and tap water at 4 different concentration levels (0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 µg/L). Recoveries were quantitative with values ranging between 70-115%, and relative standard deviation values lower than 14%. Limits of quantification were at the low ng/L for all the target fungicides. Finally, the validated FPSE-GC-MS/MS method was applied to real water samples, revealing the presence of 11 out of the 17 target fungicides.

Footprints in the sand - Assessing the seasonal trends of volatile methylsiloxanes and UV-filters

This study focused on the determination of seven volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs) and eleven UV-filters (UVFs) in beach sand from the Oporto's region (Portugal). A QuEChERS methodology ("Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe") was used to extract VMSs from the sand, which has never been employed before. To extract the UVFs, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was used. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty-three beach sand samples were analysed, from two campaigns - summer/winter. VMSs were found in all the samples with concentrations ranging from 0.007 ± 0.001 to 17.8 ± 0.9 ng g^-1_dw, while UVFs in summer samples from 0.030 ± 0.001 to 373 ± 17 ng g^-1_dw. Cyclic VMSs and octocrylene (OC) were detected in higher concentrations. In general, higher levels were detected in summer than winter. Hazard quotients were determined and 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC), 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EMC) and benzophenone-3 (BP3) presented values >1, which may indicate that they may pose an ecotoxicological risk.

Different miniaturized extraction methodologies followed by GC-MS/MS analysis for the determination of UV filters in beach sand

Four different miniaturized methodologies were developed and applied to the analysis of 11 UV filters in sand samples. These approaches were based on ultrasound and vortex extractions, on-column lixiviation, and ultrasound extraction followed by solid-phase microextraction. Gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used for quantitative analysis. The analytical performance provided by the four methods was evaluated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, and limits of quantification. Lixiviation was discarded since it provided the lowest recoveries and the highest limits of quantification. In contrast, ultrasound and vortex extractions, and ultrasound extraction followed by solid-phase microextraction were suitable, with recoveries in general >85% and limits of quantification at the low ng/g level. Moreover, ultrasound extraction followed by solid-phase microextraction allowed using external calibration with aqueous standards and it provided higher sensitivity, with limits of quantification in general one order of magnitude lower than those achieved with the other techniques. The methodologies were applied for the analysis of four marine sand samples, and the results were statistically compared performing an analysis of variance. Eight out of the eleven target UV filters were detected. Octocrylene was found at very high concentrations (up to 1000 ng/g) followed by ethylhexyl salicylate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, homosalate, and 2-ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate.

Determination of priority and other hazardous substances in football fields of synthetic turf by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: A health and environmental concern

Due to the high concern generated in the last years about the safety of recycled tire rubber used for recreational sports surfaces, this study aims at evaluating the presence of forty organic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, adipates, vulcanisation additives and antioxidants in recycled tire crumb of synthetic turf football fields. Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE) was successfully employed to extract the target compounds from the crumb rubber, and analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The transfer of the target chemicals from the crumb rubber to the runoff water and to the air above the rubber surface has also been evaluated employing solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Samples from fifteen football fields were analysed, and the results revealed the presence of 24 of the 40 target compounds, including 14 of the 16 EPA PAHs, with total concentrations up to 50 μg g^-1. Heavy metals such as Cd, Cr and Pb were also found. A partial transfer of organic compounds to the air and runoff water was also demonstrated. The analysis of rain water collected directly from the football field, showed the presence of a high number of the target compounds at concentrations reaching above 100 μg L^-1. The environmental risk arising from the burning of crumb rubber tires has been assessed, as well, analysing the crumb rubber, and the air and water in contact with this material, showing a substantial increase both of the number and concentration of the hazardous chemicals.

Photodegradation of multiclass fungicides in the aquatic environment and determination by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The photodegradation behaviour for nine widespread fungicides (benalaxyl, cyprodinil, dimethomorph, fenhexamide, iprovalicarb, kresoxim-methyl, metalaxyl, myclobutanil and tebuconazole) was evaluated in different types of water. Two different systems, direct UV photolysis and UVC/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process (AOP), were applied for the photodegradation tests. For the monitoring of the target compound degradation, a method based on direct injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. Several fungicide photodegradation by-products were tentatively identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) as well. For the photolysis studies, the efficiency of different types of radiation, UVC (λ = 254 nm) and UVA (λ = 365 nm), was compared. UVC photolysis provided the highest removal with a complete degradation for fenhexamide and kresoxim-methyl, and percentages between 48 and 78% for the other compounds, excluding iprovalicarb and myclobutanil with removals <35%, after 30 min of irradiation. Besides, the photodegradation tests were performed with different initial concentrations of fungicides, and the efficiency of two photoreactor systems was compared. In all cases, the kinetics followed pseudo-first order, and the half-life times could also be calculated. The addition of H₂O₂ under UVC light allowed an improvement of the reaction kinetics, especially for the most recalcitrant fungicides, obtaining in all cases removals higher than 82% in less than 6 min. Finally, in order to evaluate the suitability of the proposed systems, both UVC photolysis and UVC/H₂O₂ system were tested in different real water matrices (wastewater, tap water, swimming pool water and river water), showing that the UVC/H₂O₂ system had the highest removal efficiency in less than 6 min, for all water samples.

Simultaneous in-vial acetylation solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of multiclass organic UV filters in water

UV filters are a class of emerging contaminants that are widely used in personal care products (PCPs) and that can be detected at low concentrations in the aquatic environment (ngL^-1). Sensitive modern analytical methods are then mandatory to accurately analyze them. A methodology based on solid-phase-microextraction (SPME), considered as a 'Green Chemistry' technique, followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of 14 UV filters of different chemical nature in environmental and recreational waters. In-vial low-cost derivatization was carried out to improve chromatographic performance of phenolic compounds. The extraction parameters (fiber coating, extraction mode, and salt addition) were optimized by means of experimental designs in order to achieve reliable conditions. Finally, the SPME-GC-MS/MS method was validated in terms of linearity, accuracy and precision with LODs in the low ngL^-1 level. Its application to the analysis of 28 different samples including sea, river, spa, swimming pool, and aquapark waters, enabled the detection of 11 target UV filters at concentration levels up to 540μgL^-1, highlighting the presence of OCR in all analyzed samples and of 2EHMC (proposed to be considered as priority pollutant) in 79% of them.

Effects of methyltestosterone, letrozole, triphenyltin and fenarimol on histology of reproductive organs of the copepod Acartia tonsa

The marine calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa was exposed to methyltestosterone (MET, 1.6-126 μg L(-1)), letrozole (LET, 10-1000 μg L(-1)), triphenyltin chloride (TPT, 0.0014-0.0088 μg L(-1) TPT-Sn) and fenarimol (FEN, 2.8-105 μg L(-1)) for 21 d covering a full life-cycle. All four compounds investigated are known to act as androgens in vertebrates. The digestive tract, musculature, nervous system, reproductive organs, gonad and accessory sexual glands were examined by light microscopy after routine staining and immune-labelling for detection of apoptosis and determination of proliferation activities. MET induced an inhibition of oogenesis, oocyte maturation and yolk formation, respectively, which was most pronounced at the lowest concentrations tested. In LET exposed males, spermatogenesis was enhanced with very prominent gamete stages; in some stages apoptosis occurred. The spermatophore was hypertrophied and displayed deformations. In females, LET induced a disorder of oogenesis and disturbances in yolk synthesis. TPT stimulated the male reproductive system at 0.0014 and 0.0035 μg TPT-SnL(-1), whereas inhibiting effects were observed in the female gonad at 0.0088 μg TPT-SnL(-1). In FEN exposed females proliferation of gametes was reduced and yolk formation showed irregular features at 2.8-105 μgL(-1). In FEN exposed males an elevated proliferation activity was observed. No pathological alterations in other organ systems, e.g. the digestive tract including the hindgut acting as respiratory organ, the nervous system, or the musculature were seen. This indicates that the effects on gonads might be caused rather by disturbance of endocrine signalling or interference with hormone metabolism than by general toxicity.

Hazardous organic chemicals in rubber recycled tire playgrounds and pavers

In this study, the presence of hazardous organic chemicals in surfaces containing recycled rubber tires is investigated. Direct material analyses using solvent extraction, as well as SPME analysis of the vapour phase above the sample, were carried out. Twenty-one rubber mulch samples were collected from nine different playgrounds. In addition, seven commercial samples of recycled rubber pavers were acquired in a local store of a multinational company. All samples were extracted by ultrasound energy, followed by analysis of the extract by GC-MS. The analysis confirmed the presence of a large number of hazardous substances including PAHs, phthalates, antioxidants (e.g. BHT, phenols), benzothiazole and derivatives, among other chemicals. The study evidences the high content of toxic chemicals in these recycled materials. The concentration of PAHs in the commercial pavers was extremely high, reaching values up to 1%. In addition, SPME studies of the vapour phase above the samples confirm the volatilisation of many of those organic compounds. Uses of recycled rubber tires, especially those targeting play areas and other facilities for children, should be a matter of regulatory concern.

The unexpected sources of organotin contamination in aquatic toxicological laboratory studies

Unaccounted sources of contamination can be problematic in toxicological studies and can range from the presence of impurities, breakdown products or isoforms of the parent compound to the unexpected compounds leaching from dosing apparatus. As these compounds are not being tested, they may not be measured in the dosed aquaria and hence go undetected, potentially contributing as confounding factors in toxicological assessments. In this paper we report the unexpected detection of butyltin compounds (mono, di and tributyltin) in flow-through aquaria waters of an aquatic toxicological set-up. High and variable leaching rates for dibutyltin of 2.0 and 6.6 microg/h were detected during the first week of each of two separate flow-through studies. Following this initial 'surge' of dibutyltin leachate, a decrease in leachate rate was seen with values of 0.9 and 1.2 microg/h by Day 14 (second week of study). The main source of the butyltin leachates was shown, to be the airline tubing used in the assembly of the air-supply into each flow-through tank. A 24h period of incubation of the airline tubing with clean water led to the leaching of concentrations of 63.8 ng/l TBT-Sn, 1638.8 ng/l DBT-Sn and 4054.6 ng/l MBT-Sn. The concentration of tributyltin detected was within its toxicologically effective range and as such could have potentially confounding effects on the toxicological bioassays being used. These accidental findings could be of enormous relevance to aquatic toxicologists and have an important bearing on the choice of materials used to construct experimental exposure aquaria.

Investigation of the photochemical behaviour of pyrethroids lacking the cyclopropane ring by photo-solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The characterization of by-products arising from the UV photodegradation of two insecticide pyrethroids lacking the cyclopropane ring (flucythrinate and fenvalerate) has been investigated by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty photoproducts were tentatively identified mainly based on the interpretation of the experimental mass spectra or by using reference mass spectra. Some of these compounds had not previously been detected. Furthermore, the generation of some of the photoproducts might be a matter for concern due to their potential toxicity. The corresponding photodegradation routes, including postulation of the intermediate radicals, have also been proposed. These photodegradation studies were performed by photo-solid-phase microextraction (photo-SPME) in which the SPME fibre was exposed to light after extraction of the target analytes from aqueous solutions. The degradation kinetics of the investigated pyrethroids and the photoformation-photodegradation curves of the photoproducts generated in situ were also monitored through the ion chromatograms obtained for different irradiation times and the corresponding mass spectra.

Simultaneous extraction and cleanup method based on pressurized solvent extraction for multiresidue analysis of pesticides in complex feed samples

The development of a multiresidue method based on pressurized solvent extraction (PSE) to determine a large number of pesticides (mostly pyrethroids and organochlorines) in cattle feed is described. As far as we know, this is the first work dedicated to the PSE of many of the target pesticides from animal feed. A mixed level fraction design was performed to investigate the influence of several operational variables on the PSE procedure; integrated cleanup strategies were also assessed allowing the direct chromatographic analysis of the extracts. Method accuracy was evaluated by the analysis of a certified reference material (BCR-115) and different fortified cattle feed samples. Most analytes were recovered in the range of 70-110%, with relative standard deviations generally lower than 15%. Limits of detection (LODs) were below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) set by the European Union for animal feed and main crops used in the preparation of feedingstuffs. The applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by the analysis of real cattle feed samples collected from 23 dairy farms located in Galicia (NW Spain).

A multispecies approach for monitoring persistent toxic substances in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic sea)

Bivalve mussels are usually used for biomonitoring persistent toxic substances (PTS) in coastal ecosystems. Nevertheless, these organisms, which live attached on hard substrates, can be found along the sandy coasts only on human manufactured products. In this work different species collected in the Gulf of Gdańsk were compared to evaluate their suitability for monitoring PTS pollution at a local scale. The clam Mya arenaria seems to represent an excellent indicator of sediment pollution, mainly for organotin compounds which are selectively bioaccumulated. Organochlorine compounds are bioaccumulated in the different species mainly in function of their lipid body burden. Habitat conditions (salinity, substrate, pollution), however, strongly limited the occurrence of different species in the sampling sites; the most ubiquitous species, the common shrimp Crangon crangon, resulted therefore the most suitable to be used for the comparison of PTS pollution in this aquatic environment. Although the blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) was confirmed to be a very useful sentinel species to compare pollution level inside and outside the Gulf of Gdańsk, we recommend the use of other species to give a more detailed picture of the pollution situation in coastal areas.

Effects of sample pretreatment and storage conditions in the determination of pyrethroids in water samples by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The aqueous instability of pyrethroids and other compounds usually found in commercial pesticide formulations has been demonstrated in this work. Several types of sample treatment have been studied to avoid analyte losses during sample manipulation and storage. Analysis was performed by SPME-GC-MS. Addition of sodium thiosulfate to tap water prevented pyrethroid degradation as a result of oxidation by free chlorine. The amount added was optimized to minimize the effect of the salt on the analytical results. Analysis of samples that had been stored at 4 degrees C for several days revealed loss of some of the pyrethroids in the first period of storage. The effect of freezing the samples was studied and it was confirmed that samples could be stabilized for at least one week by freezing. Finally, addition of a miscible organic solvent, for example acetone, led to improvement of the analytical precision. The quality of the SPME-GC-MS method was studied. Linearity (R > 0.993), repeatability (RSD < 15%), and sensitivity (detection limits between 0.9 and 35 pg mL(-1)) were good. When the procedure was applied to real samples including run off and waste water some of the target compounds were identified and quantified.

Multivariate optimization of the factors influencing the solid-phase microextraction of pyrethroid pesticides in water

A method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography with micro-electron capture detection (GC-microECD) has been optimized for the analysis of pyrethroids in water samples. The influence of parameters such as temperature, fibre coating, salting-out effect and sampling mode on the extraction efficiency has been studied by means of a mix-level factorial design, which allowed the study of main effects as well as two factor interactions. Finally, a method based on direct SPME at 50 degrees C, using polydimethylsiloxane fibre is proposed. The method showed good linearity (R2>0.995) and repeatability (RSD<or=16%) for all compounds, with detection limits ranging from 0.05 pg/mL for transfluthrin to 2.18 pg/mL for permethrin, and in general <or=1 pg/mL for most pyrethroids. Reliability was demonstrated through the evaluation of the recoveries in different water samples, such as tap water, groundwater, river water, runoff water, and wastewater. These studies demonstrated the validity of external standard calibration to quantify the target compounds in real samples, including a simple dilution step for the most complex matrices, which notoriously simplifies quantification by SPME.

COMPRENDO: Focus and approach

Tens of thousands of man-made chemicals are in regular use and discharged into the environment. Many of them are known to interfere with the hormonal systems in humans and wildlife. Given the complexity of endocrine systems, there are many ways in which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect the body's signaling system, and this makes unraveling the mechanisms of action of these chemicals difficult. A major concern is that some of these EDCs appear to be biologically active at extremely low concentrations. There is growing evidence to indicate that the guiding principle of traditional toxicology that "the dose makes the poison" may not always be the case because some EDCs do not induce the classical dose-response relationships. The European Union project COMPRENDO (Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters--Phylogenetic Approach and Common Principles focussing on Androgenic/Antiandrogenic Compounds) therefore aims to develop an understanding of potential health problems posed by androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds (AACs) to wildlife and humans by focusing on the commonalities and differences in responses to AACs across the animal kingdom (from invertebrates to vertebrates) .

Some chemical contaminant of surface sediments at the Baltic Sea coastal region with special emphasis on androgenic and anti-androgenic compounds

Androgenic and anti-androgenic compounds including p,p'-DDE, Diuron, Linuron, Fenarimol, Vinclozolin, 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) urea (DCPU), 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methylurea, (DCPMU), tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) and their metabolites (DBT, MBT, DPT, MPT) as well as metallic elements (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Co, Tl, Cr, Fe, Mn, Al, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Ba, Ti, Sn), PAHs (16 indicator compounds), DDTs and PCBs have been quantified in top layer (0-10 cm) of up to 37 surface sediment samples collected from several sites in costal zone of the Gulf of Gdańsk, an inland freshwater area of Brdyujście in Poland and the tidal flats of the Norderney Island, Wadden Sea in 2002-2003. These sites differed in the degree of anthropogenic activities, including chemical pollution and related impact on biota. Especially in sediments near shipyards, ship repair facilities, harbours, other industrial activities or close to municipal sewage treatment plant outlets butyltins, PAHs and some metallic elements were found at high concentrations. Diuron, Linuron and DCPMU were detected at a few sites, Fenarimol only once, while Vinclozolin and DCPU were not detected. DDT concentrations in the sediments from the Gdańsk and Gdynia region of the Gulf show a stepwise decrease following the ban for production and use, while diffusion of PCBs at some industrial sites seems to continue. Elevated PAH concentrations in sediments seem to be mainly due to pyrogenic and less to mixed pyrogenic and petrogenic sources, while for a few sites rather petrogenic sources dominated. The reference sites in the Norderney Island, Wadden Sea showed similar or slightly higher loads of DDTs, BTs, PAHs, PCBs and metallic elements when compared to sediments from the least contaminated sites in the coastal Gulf of Gdańsk area, while phenyltins were not detected at both spatially distant European areas.

Determination of chloroacetanilides, triazines and phenylureas and some of their metabolites in soils by pressurised liquid extraction, GC–MS/MS, LC–MS and LC–MS/MS

Pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) technique was used for the simultaneous extraction of phenylureas, triazines and chloroacetanilides and some of their metabolites from soils. Extractions were performed by mixing 15 g of dried soil with 30 mL of acetone under 100 atm at 50 degrees C, during 3 min and with three PLE cycles. Prior to the analysis of naturally contaminated soils, each of the five representative soil matrices used as blanks (of different depths) was spiked in triplicate with standards of each parent and degradation compound at about 10, 30 and 120 microg/kg. For each experiment, isoproturon-D6 and atrazine-D5 were used as surrogates. Analysis of phenylureas and metabolites of triazines and phenylureas was carried out by reversed phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and LC-MS/MS in the positive mode. Gas chromatography (GC)/ion trap mass spectrometry was used in the MS/MS mode for the parent triazines and chloroacetanilides. The average extraction recoveries were above 85%, except for didesmethyl-isoproturon, and quantification limits were between 0.5 and 5 microg/kg. The optimised multi-residue method was applied to soils and solids below the root zone, sampled from agricultural plots of a small French hydrogeological basin.

Infiltration of acetochlor and two of its metabolites in two contrasting soils

To obtain data concerning the risk of leaching of acetochlor (2-chloro-2'-methyl-6'-ethyl-N-ethoxymethyl-acetanilide) and its major metabolites, ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OA), to ground water, we studied the fate of these products in two different soil types (luvisol and calcisol) under the same weather conditions. The metabolites were detected in the soils as early as 7 d after application, indicating a rapid onset of acetochlor degradation. Ethanesulfonic acid was predominant over OA in the calcisol, regardless of time or depth, whereas the ESA to OA ratio varied with both time and depth in the luvisol. The maximum depths at which they were detected were 60 to 70 and 10 to 20 cm for ESA and OA, respectively, in the luvisol, and 60 to 70 cm (maximum depth sampled) and 30 to 40 cm for ESA and OA, respectively, in the calcisol. Acetochlor was still detected in the surface layer of the two soils 344 d after its application, although the molecule was partially leached. The maximum depths at which acetochlor was detected (60-70 cm in the luvisol and 50-60 cm [maximum depth sampled] in the calcisol) were recorded during the first sampling 7 d after application. Acetochlor was not detected on later dates below the 30- to 40-cm layer in the calcisol or the 5- to 10-cm layer in the luvisol. The greater preferential flow in the luvisol, which would have favored leaching, might partially explain why the mass balances done 7 d after application were lower in the luvisol (approximately 26%) than in the calcisol (approximately 45%).

Determination of endocrine-disrupting compounds in environmental samples using gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

This paper describes certain applications for endocrine-disrupting compounds determination. LC-MS was applied using an electrospray ionization (ESI) technique in positive mode for alcohol polyethoxylates and nonylphenol and octylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOn and OPEOn), and in negative mode for 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4-octylphenol (4-OP) to determine targeted compounds in wastewater and sludge. GC-MS and GC-MS-MS were used to determine 4-NP, 4-tert.-octylphenol (4-t-OP), bisphenol A, estradiol-17beta, estriol estrone, testosterone, 17alpha-ethynylestradioL cholesterol, coprostan-3-ol, coprostan and coprostan-3-one in both surface water and wastewater after derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethyl-silyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). Extraction from the water samples was by an SPE technique, using either a copolymeric (Oasis HLB) or C18 silica sorbents, depending on the target contaminants. Extraction from the sludge samples was by a Soxtec system using methanol. Percentage recoveries for most of the selected compounds, using either a copolymeric (Oasis HLB) or C18 silica sorbents, were satisfactory (>60%). Quantification limits for the target compounds were at ppb levels in both water and sludge samples when using LC-ESI-MS in both positive and negative modes. They reached ppt levels in water when using GC-MS (in large volume injection mode) and GC-MS-MS. The results revealed 4-NP, NPEOn and AEOs in sludge samples at a concentration range of 1.3-8.5 microg/g, and NPEOn, OPEOn and other compounds, such as coprostan and bisphenol A, in surface water and/or wastewater samples at concentrations ranging from the ppt to ppb levels.

Determination of oxanilic and sulfonic acid metabolites of acetochlor in soils by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

An analytical method is presented that describes the extraction and quantification of oxanilic and sulfonic acid metabolites of the herbicide acetochlor in soil samples. Experiments were performed on 50 g of soil using a solvent extraction technique with an acetonitrile-water (60:40) mixture in an acidic medium. Analysis was carried out by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and detection by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry in single ion monitoring and negative modes. Four different soil matrices were spiked in triplicate with standards of each degradation compound at three concentration levels between 2 and 80 microg/kg. The average recoveries range from 90 to 120% for both the metabolites, with relative standard deviations lower than 15%. The limits of quantification are about 1 and 2 microg/kg for the ethanesulfonic acid and the oxanilic acid metabolites, respectively. The method has been applied to soils and solids recovered from the deeper unsaturated zone of a small French catchment closely monitored as part of the European project "Pesticides in European Groundwaters: detailed study of Aquifers and Simulation of possible Evolution scenarios (PEGASE)".

Prediction of the impact of the Aznalcóllar toxic spill on the trace element contamination of agricultural soils

The interaction of several trace elements (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Bi, and Tl) was studied by leaching experiments in agricultural soils affected by the Aznalcóllar toxic spill. The spill led to contamination by acid waste waters and sludge deposition. The levels of contamination recorded after the sludge was removed from soils showed that highly contaminated areas remained. A comparison of soils directly affected by sludge deposition and acid waste waters with soils contaminated only by acid waste waters demonstrated that Zn/As and Cd/As ratios were good indicators of the two contributions to the contamination. Soil samples were characterised and grouped according to their texture and carbonate content. The response of elements to single extractions with CaCl2 0.01 mol l-1, CaCl2 1 mol l-1, CH3COOH 0.43 mol l-1, and EDTA 0.05 mol l-1 enabled us to estimate their mobility in the soils. Cd and Zn were found to be the most mobile elements. Cu showed an intermediate mobility, especially in an acidic medium. Pb, As, Bi and Tl were found to be non-mobile elements. A comparison of referent, low and highly contaminated samples showed that the presence of sludge had an effect on desorption yields, in part due to the short-term after the contamination. Calculations of a relative scale of long-term mobility, between soils and trace elements, provided further conclusions derived from the use of single extractions.