Method optimization to measure polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in soils of Bratislava, Slovakia

We modified an analytical method to determine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in urban soils of Bratislava (Slovakia). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) introduced as a clean-up step for soil extracts substantially reduced matrix enhancements when PBDEs were measured with gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS). The resulting method proved to be accurate, precise, and showed low detection limits. The sum of 15 PBDE concentrations in surface horizons of Bratislava soils ranged from 87 to 627 pg g⁻¹. PBDE concentrations were mostly higher in surface than deeper horizons probably because of atmospheric deposition and lack of substantial vertical transport. Lower brominated PBDEs undergo more soil-atmosphere exchanges or are more scavenged and transferred with litter fall to the soil organic matter than higher brominated ones as suggested by the correlation between lower brominated PBDEs and soil organic C (C_org) concentrations.     

Analysis of pesticide residues using the Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) pesticide multiresidue method in traditional Chinese medicine by gas chromatography with electron capture detection

The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe multiresidue method (QuEChERS) has been validated for the extraction of 15 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in completely different matrices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The method employed a rapid, simple and cost-effective procedure. The spiking levels for the recovery experiments were 0.1, 0.5 and 2.0 mg kg⁻¹. Mean recoveries mostly ranged between 76.0% and 114.0% (96.0% on average), and relative standard deviations (RSD) were generally below 10% (4.72% on average). Based on these results, the methodology has been proven to be highly efficient and robust and thus suitable for monitoring the MRL compliance of a wide range of commodity. The contamination status of 15 OCPs on 80 different TCMs marketed in China, and a total of 400 samples were also performed using a previously validated method. 15 OCPs were benzene hexachloride (BHC, including α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC), hexachlorobenzene, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, p, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDD, o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDT, mirex, endrin, dieldrin. This study indicates that the proposed method is useful for analyzing OCPs in TCM.     

Effect of herbicides on glutathione S-transferases in the earthworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia fetida</Emphasis>

AIM AND BACKGROUND: Earthworms have been studied as a readily available, easily maintainable and cheap test species for assessing chemical pollution, and may be an alternative to in vivo rodent bioassays. The current investigation aims to characterize detoxification enzymes in Eisenia fetida and stress response against two herbicides with different modes of action, namely, fenoxaprop and metolachlor. METHODS: Herbicides were applied to soil containing earthworms. Animals were then collected, sacrificed and shock-frozen. Extracted protein was analyzed for glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity using CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene), DCNB (1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene), pNBC (p-nitrobenzylchloride), PNOBC (p-nitrobenz-o-ylchloride) and selected herbicides. GST isoenzymes were partially purified by affinity chromatography and molecular weights were estimated by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: In E. fetida protein extracts, GST activity towards model compounds ranked as CDNB>DCNB>PNBOC>PNBC. Fluorodifen was not conjugated at all, but fenoxaprop and metolachlor were conjugated at low rates. Furthermore, the GST isoenzyme pattern changed during the incubation with herbicides, either due to stress or as a defense reaction. After incubation with monochlorobimane, a strong fluorescence of the intestinal tract and the intersegments was observed, indicating organ-specific GST induction. DISCUSSION: According to the author's knowledge, here, for the first time, evidence is presented that E. fetida GST are also capable of conjugating a wider range of xenobiotic substrates. Different forms of GST were observed and changes in GST isoforms due to the herbicide treatment were also noticed. GST conjugation rates varied between different herbicides used in this experiment. It might be assumed that herbicides may well be detoxified by earthworms, to a certain extent, but that they are also potent stress factors influencing the detoxification system of the animal. High doses or long exposure might lead to deleterious effects on earthworms and limit their survival rate. The use of the animals as bioindicators for herbicides and herbicide residues seems very promising, but is surely influenced by the lack of detoxification for some compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Conjugation of several xenobiotics with model substances and herbicides is proven in the earthworm E. fetida. However, E. fetida has only limited capabilities of detoxifying herbicidal compounds. Different isoforms of GST were involved and altered in their activity after treatment. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: The accumulation of GS-conjugates and their determination via fluorescence microscopy is a quick and secure, additional marker for exposure that should be further developed to complement existing biotests. The described methods and endpoints might help to understand the complex reaction of earthworms towards herbicides and lead to an adapted test methodology.     

New metallothionein assay in Scrobicularia plana: heating effect and correlation with other biomarkers

Metallothionein (MT) and other biomarker levels were measured in Scrobicularia plana clams to assess pollution of the Guadalquivir Estuary possibly affected by metals released from Aznalcóllar pyrite mine in 1998. After optimizing reagent concentrations for monobromobimane derivatization, MT levels were quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection (RP-HPLC-FD) in heated or unheated digestive gland extracts and compared to those obtained by differential pulse polarography (DPP). MT content assayed by RP-HPLC-FD in unheated samples was higher than that obtained by DPP and correlated better with metals and anti-oxidant activities. MT assay by RP-HPLC-FD in unheated extracts would be preferable for assessing metal pollution, due to its greater sensitivity and specificity. In addition to MT induction, glyoxalase II inhibition was well correlated with metal contents. Our results suggest that metals at the estuary do not originate from Aznalcóllar spill, but from those carried along by the river and deposited at its concave bank.     

串联四极杆质谱(GC-QqQ-MS/MS)测定土壤中的有机氯农药和多氯联苯

建立了用加速溶剂萃取仪(ASE)萃取、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)净化、气相色谱/串联四极杆质谱多反应监测、同时测定土壤中17种有机氯农药和19种多氯联苯的方法.加标浓度在3.3μg/kg时的平均回收率在79.6%～93.2%之间,相对标准偏差在2.9%～13.0%之间,定量限在0.01～0.51μg/kg之间.在检测土壤样品中的有机氯农药和多氯联苯残留方面,Gc-QqQ-MS/MS相对于气相色谱/电子捕获检测器(GC-ECD)和GC-MS的选择离子检测(SIM)模式具有非常明显的优势,尤其是在低浓度水平的定性和定量方面.     

The Role of Organic Matter in Natural Aquatic Systems: Analytical Constraints

The dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems consists of a heterogeneous mixture of compounds with wide ranging chemical properties and diverse origins. the presence of organic matter (OM) in surface and ground waters has important implications with regard to the mobility and therefore fate of many potential organic and inorganic pollutants. the majority of the analytical approaches in current use require exhaustive pre-treatment steps which may lead to the formation of artefacts within the sample. an analytical technique based upon gel permeation chromatography is proposed as a more reliable procedure for the characterisation of naturally occurring dissolved organic matter.     

Dissipation of Endosulfan and Dichlorvos Residues In/On Cauliflower Curds

Dissipation behaviour of endosulfan and dichlorvos in/on cauliflower, variety Snowball-16, was studied during rabi season (Sep.–March) 2003–2004. Endosulfan and dichlorvos were sprayed @ 350 and 110g a.i. with 115 g a.i., respectively, 80 days after transplanting. Samples were taken at the interval of 0 (1h after spray), 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after spray (DAS) in triplicate and residues were estimated on GC-ECD system equipped with capillary column. The initial deposits of 3.452 and 0.295μgg⁻¹ of endosulfan and dichlorvos dissipated to 0.084 (97.56%) and 0.009 (96.95%), respectively after 10 DAS. Residues of endosulfan reached below maximum residue limit of 2μgg⁻¹ one day after spray and of dichlorvos were below MRL value of 0.5μgg⁻¹ even on 0 day. Dissipation pattern followed first order kinetics for both the insecticides with half life periods of 1.81 and 2.08 days for endosulfan and dichlorvos, respectively.     

大气中芳香胺及吡啶类化合物的离子色谱法测定

采用GDX-501富集大气中芳香胺及吡啶类化合物,经沸水解吸后解吸液直接注入离子色谱仪,用紫外/可见光检测器进行测定。方法灵敏、简便,可同时测定吡啶、2-甲基吡啶、3-甲基吡啶、苯胺、邻-甲苯胺、间-甲苯胺等。当采样体积为30L时,方法的最低检出浓度范围为0.05～0.10mg/m3(吡啶～间甲苯胺),测定的回收率为84.7%～95.9%,相对标准偏差为4.0%～6.6%。     

电导和直流安培双检测器离子色谱法测定清洁水样中的碘化物

选用配备了2种不同检测器(电导检测器和直流安培检测器)的离子色谱仪对稀释后过0.22μm滤膜的水样进行分析。配备有直流安培检测器的离子色谱仪测定水中碘化物的方法在0.100~20.0μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)=0.9999,方法检出限为0.030μg/L,测定下限为0.120μg/L,样品加标回收率为95.0%~104%,相对标准偏差为1.06%~1.64%;配备有电导检测器的离子色谱仪测定水中碘化物的方法在20.0~2.00×105μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)=0.9995,方法检出限为2.00μg/L,测定下限为8.00μg/L,样品加标回收率为99.0%~110%,相对标准偏差为0.71%~3.12%。离子色谱-直流安培检测器法测定水中碘化物的方法准确度高、灵敏度高、精密度好,检出限相对较低,适用于测定ρ(碘化物)≤20.0μg/L的清洁水样;离子色谱-电导检测器法主要适用于测定ρ(碘化物)≥20.0μg/L的水样。     

全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱法分离复杂体系中7种指示剂 多氯联苯

采用全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱法(GC×GC TOF-MS)分析了混标样品Aroclor 1260、Aroclor 1254、Aroclor 1242中的多氯联苯(PCBs)单体,考察了在复杂体系下对7种PCBs指示剂的分离能力。结果表明,与优化柱系统的分离效果相比,136种单体的混标样品中共分离出121种单体,7种指示剂经一维和二维的保留时间及质谱定性,在121种单体的2D斑点图中清晰可辨。全二维对于复杂体系的PCBs和指示剂的分离表明其强大的分离能力和对于检测复杂体系中指示剂的分辨能力,对该类物质的定性和定量检测具有重要意义。