Estrogen receptor mediated activity in bankside groundwater, with flood suspended particulate matter and floodplain soil - an approach combining tracer substance, bioassay and target analysis

Bankside groundwater is widely used as drinking water resource and, therefore, contamination has to be avoided. In the European Union groundwater protection is explicit subject to Water Framework Directive. While groundwater pollution may originate from different sources, this study investigated on impacts via flood events.Groundwater was sampled with increasing distance to the river Rhine near Karlsruhe, Germany. Samples were HPLC-MS-MS analyzed for the river contaminant carbamazepine to indicate river water infiltration, giving permanent presence in 250 m distance to the river (14-47 μg L⁻¹). Following a flood event, concentrations of about 16-20 μg L⁻¹ could also be detected in a distance of 750 m to the river. Furthermore, estrogenic activity as determined with the Yeast Estrogen Screen assay was determined to increase up to a 17β-ethinylestradiol equivalent concentration (E-EQ) = 2.9 ng L⁻¹ near the river, while activity was initially measured following the flood with up to E-EQ = 2.6 ng L⁻¹ in 750 m distance. Detections were delayed with increasing distance to the river indicating river water expansion into the aquifer.Flood suspended matter and floodplain soil were fractionated and analyzed for estrogenic activity in parallel giving up to 1.4 ng g⁻¹ and up to 0.7 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Target analysis focusing on known estrogenic active substances only explained <1% of measured activities.Nevertheless, river water infiltration was shown deep into bankside groundwater, thus, impacting groundwater quality. Therefore, flood events have to be in the focus when aiming for groundwater and drinking water protection as well as for implementation of Water Framework Directive.     

Concentrations of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in biosolid amended soil,influent, effluent,receiving water,and sediment of wastewater treatment plants in Canada

A comprehensive surveillance program was conducted to determine the occurrence of three cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) in environmental compartments impacted by wastewater effluent discharges. Eleven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), representative of those found in Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec, Canada, were investigated to determine levels of cVMS in their influents and effluents. In addition, receiving water and sediment impacted by WWTP effluents, and biosolid-amended soil from agricultural fields were also analyzed for a preliminary evaluation of the environmental exposure of cVMS in media impacted by wastewater effluent and solids. A newly-developed large volume injection (septumless head adapter and cooled injection system) gas chromatography – mass spectrometry method was used to avoid contamination originating from instrumental analysis. Concentrations of D4, D5, and D6 in influents to the 11 WWTPs were in the range 0.282–6.69 μg L⁻¹, 7.75–135 μg L⁻¹, and 1.53–26.9 μg L⁻¹, respectively. In general, wastewater treatment showed cVMS removal rates of greater than 92%, regardless of treatment type. The D4, D5, and D6 concentration ranges in effluent were <0.009–0.045 μg L⁻¹, <0.027–1.56 μg L⁻¹, and <0.022–0.093 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations in receiving water influenced by effluent, were lower compared to those in effluent in most cases, with the ranges <0.009–0.023 μg L⁻¹, <0.027–1.48 μg L⁻¹, and <0.022–0.151 μg L⁻¹ for D4, D5, and D6, respectively. Sediment concentrations ranged from <0.003–0.049 μg g⁻¹ dw, 0.011–5.84 μg g⁻¹ dw, and 0.004–0.371 μg g⁻¹ dw for D4, D5, and D6, respectively. The concentrations in biosolid-amended soil, having values of <0.008–0.017 μg g⁻¹ dw, <0.007–0.221 μg g⁻¹ dw, and <0.009–0.711 μg g⁻¹ dw for D4, D5, and D6, respectively, were lower than those in sediment impacted by wastewater effluent in most cases. In comparison with the no-observed-effected concentrations (NOEC) and IC50 (concentration that causes 50% inhibition of the response) values, the potential risks to aquatic, sediment-dwelling, and terrestrial organisms from these reported concentrations are low.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and mercury in fish from lakes of the Tibetan Plateau

High mountains may act as cold traps for globally transported persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg). In the present study, 60 fish samples were collected from eight alpine lakes across the Tibetan Plateau. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), total mercury (HgT) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were quantified in the fish muscle tissues to improve the understanding of pollution status and factors regulating the transport and fate of these contaminants on the Plateau. The results showed that lake-averaged ∑₁₄PBDEs concentration was between 0.09 ng g⁻¹ dw and 4.32 ng g⁻¹ dw, which was lower than those reported for European mountains. The total mercury concentration in individual fish ranged from 243 to 2384 ng g⁻¹ dw, and that of MeHg from 131 to 1610 ng g⁻¹ dw, which is much higher than those reported in other mountain fish. The spatial variation of PBDEs and mercury in the Plateau is largely controlled by the specific meteorological patterns.     

Occurrence and distribution of sediment-associated insecticides in urban waterways in the Pearl River Delta, China

Sediment-associated pesticides, including organochlorine (OCP), organophosphate (OP), and pyrethroid insecticides, were analyzed in urban waterways in three cities (Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. The OCPs represented 27.2% of the detectable insecticides in sediment, and chlordanes, DDTs, and endosulfans were the most frequently detected OCPs. The currently used insecticide chlorpyrifos was the only OP detected above the reporting limit (RL), with concentrations ranging from <RL to 100 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw). Additionally, pyrethroids were detected in all sediments with the sum pyrethroid concentrations ranging from 4.26 to 384 ng g⁻¹ dw and this represented 64.9% of the sum insecticide concentration. Despite their widespread use, no studies have been conducted investigating the occurrence and distribution of pyrethroids in China. As the first report of pyrethroids in urban waterways in China, the current study found cypermethrin was the most abundant insecticide detected in the PRD at concentrations ranging from 1.44 to 219 ng g⁻¹ dw. Spatially, sediment from more populous and urbanized areas (Shenzhen and Tianhe district in Guangzhou) had higher insecticide residues than less populous agricultural areas. In the more modernized city of Shenzhen, the OCPs were seldom detected, whereas more diverse patterns of pyrethroids were observed. Potential sources of these insecticides, especially the frequently detected pyrethroids, were most likely from pest control during urban landscaping maintenance and from abatement programs targeting mosquitoes and ants. Results suggested that a shift in application pattern and elevated urbanization increased accumulation of currently used insecticides like pyrethroids in sediment, and made them the predominate insecticides in the PRD urban waterways.     

Aerobic degradation of tetrabromobisphenol-A by microbes in river sediment

This study investigated the aerobic degradation of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) and changes in the microbial community in river sediment from southern Taiwan. Aerobic degradation rate constants (k₁) and half-lives (t_1/2) for TBBPA (50 μg g⁻¹) ranged from 0.053 to 0.077 d⁻¹ and 9.0 to 13.1 d, respectively. The degradation of TBBPA (50 μg g⁻¹) was enhanced by adding yeast extract (5 mg L⁻¹), sodium chloride (10 ppt), cellulose (0.96 mg L⁻¹), humic acid (0.5 g L⁻¹), brij 30 (55 μM), brij 35 (91 μM), rhamnolipid (130 mg L⁻¹), or surfactin (43 mg L⁻¹), with rhamnolipid yielding a higher TBBPA degradation than the other additives. For different toxic chemicals in the sediment, the results showed the high-to-low order of degradation rates were bisphenol-A (BPA) (50 μg g⁻¹) > nonylphenol (NP) (50 μg g⁻¹) > 4,4′-dibrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-15) (50 μg g⁻¹) > TBBPA (50 μg g⁻¹) > 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) (50 μg g⁻¹). The addition of various treatments changed the microbial community in river sediments. The results also showed that Bacillus pumilus and Rhodococcus ruber were the dominant bacteria in the process of TBBPA degradation in the river sediments.     

The distribution of 4-nonylphenol in marine organisms of North American Pacific Coast estuaries

One of the chemical breakdown products of nonylphenol ethoxylates, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), accumulates in organisms and is of concern as an environmental pollutant due to its endocrine disrupting effects. We measured 4-NP levels in the seawater, sediment, and twelve organisms within the California estuary, Morro Bay, and examined biomagnification of 4-NP using stable isotope abundances (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) to quantify trophic position. 4-NP concentrations in organisms from Morro Bay included 25000 ± 8600 ng g⁻¹ lw in liver of California sea lion, 14000 ± 5600 ng g⁻¹ lw in liver of harbor porpoise, 138000 ± 55000 ng g⁻¹ lw in liver of sea otters, 15700 ± 3600 ng g⁻¹ lw in liver of seabirds, 36100 ± 6100 ng g⁻¹ lw in arrow goby fish, 62800 ± 28400 ng g⁻¹ lw in oysters, and 12700 ± 1300 ng g⁻¹ lw in mussels. 4-NP levels generally showed a pattern of trophic dilution among organisms in Morro Bay, with exceptions of biomagnification observed between three trophic links: mussel to sea otter (BMF 10.9), oyster to sea otter (BMF 2.2), and arrow goby to staghorn sculpin (BMF 2.7). Our examination of other west coast estuaries of USA and Canada revealed that mean 4-NP concentrations in gobies and mussels from Morro Bay were significantly higher than those from a more urbanized estuary, San Francisco Bay (goby: 11100 ± 3800 ng g⁻¹ lw) and from a remote estuary, Bamfield Inlet, Canada (goby: 9000 ± 900 ng g⁻¹ lw, mussel: 6100 ± 700 ng g⁻¹ lw). Relative to other estuaries worldwide, 4-NP levels in seawater (0.42 ± 0.16 μg L⁻¹) and sediment (53 ± 14 ng g⁻¹ dw) of Morro Bay are low, but gobies and oysters have higher 4-NP levels than comparable fauna.     

Contamination of nonylphenolic compounds in creek water, wastewater treatment plant effluents, and sediments from Lake Shihwa and vicinity, Korea: comparison with fecal pollution

Nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), coprostanol (COP), and cholestanol, major contaminants in industrial and domestic wastewaters, were analyzed in creek water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and sediment samples from artificial Lake Shihwa and its vicinity, one of the most industrialized regions in Korea. We also determined mass discharge of NPs and COP, a fecal sterol, into the lake, to understand the linkage between discharge and sediment contamination. Total NP (the sum of nonylphenol, and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates) were 0.32-875 μg L⁻¹ in creeks, 0.61-87.0 μg L⁻¹ in WWTP effluents, and 29.3-230 μg g⁻¹ TOC in sediments. Concentrations of COP were 0.09-19.0 μg L⁻¹ in creeks, 0.11-44.0 μg L⁻¹ in WWTP effluents, and 2.51-438 μg g⁻¹ TOC in sediments. The spatial distributions of NPs in creeks and sediments from the inshore region were different from those of COP, suggesting that Lake Shihwa contamination patterns from industrial effluents differ from those from domestic effluents. The mass discharge from the combined outfall of the WWTPs, located in the offshore region, was 2.27 kg d⁻¹ for NPs and 1.00 kg d⁻¹ for COP, accounting for 91% and 95% of the total discharge into Lake Shihwa, respectively. The highest concentrations of NPs and COP in sediments were found in samples at sites near the submarine outfall of the WWTPs, indicating that the submarine outfall is an important point source of wastewater pollution in Lake Shihwa.     

Analysis of major congeners of polybromobiphenyls and polybromodiphenyl ethers in office dust using high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The study focused on analysis of polybromobiphenyls (PBBs) and polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners in office dust obtained in Pretoria, South Africa. Of the 32 congeners considered for identification, (BB-1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 26, 29, 30, 31, 38, 49, 80, 103, 153, 155, 209 and BDE-3, 15, 17, 28, 47, 66, 77, 85, 99, 100, 126, 138, 153, 154, 183, 209) only BB-2, 4, 30, 153, 209 and BDE-47, 66, 85, 99, 153 and 209 congeners were detected. The sum of PBBs concentration detected in office dust ranged from <dl − 196 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) with a median and mean of 11.4 and 38.2 ng g⁻¹, respectively. On the other hand, the sum of PBDEs concentration detected ranged from 21.6 to 578.6 ng g⁻¹ dw with a median and mean of 162 and 169 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. A Spearman rank correlation between ∑₅PBBs and ∑₆PBDEs (r_s = 0.55, p = 0.003), indicated a statistical significant positive correlation for the similarity of pollution sources for both compound classes. However, no correlation was observed between the number of electronic materials and summation of concentrations of PBBs and PBDEs congeners detected. Concentrations of PBDEs detected in this study are substantially lower than reported in office dust in developed countries.     

Pharmaceuticals in settleable particulate material in urban and non-urban waters

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are important sources of settleable particulate material (SPM), heading to sediments with natural suspended solids. To date, there is little information about the fate of pharmaceuticals in sediment systems. In this study, the objective was to determine if pharmaceuticals are detected in SPM at locations near WWTPs or even in rural areas, thus being susceptible for sedimentation.SPM samples were collected from 10 sites in Finland, grouped as reference, rural and wastewater effluent sites. SPM collectors were placed about 35 cm above bottom for about 2 months during summer. After extraction, a set of 17 pharmaceuticals was analyzed.Several pharmaceuticals were detected in SPM accumulated at sites next to WWTPs. The concentration of citalopram was notably high (300-1350 ng g⁻¹ dw). Also bisoprolol and ciprofloxacin were detected at high concentrations (6-325 and 9-390 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively). In contrast, none of the pharmaceuticals were detected from reference sites and only two were found from a single rural site.There is no previous information about the presence of pharmaceuticals in SPM. The results showed that pharmaceuticals are sorbed to particles in WWTP and nearby, eventually ending up in sediments. These results also indicate that pharmaceuticals are not markedly contaminating sediments of rural areas in Finland.     

Spatial distribution of organochlorine contaminants in soil, sediment, and fish in Bikini and Enewetak Atolls of the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean

Several nuclear tests were performed at Enewetak and Bikini Atolls in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The events at Bikini Atoll involved several ships that were tested for durability during nuclear explosions, and 24 vessels now rest on the bottom of the Bikini lagoon. Nine soil samples were collected from different areas on the two islands of the atoll, and eighteen sediment, nine fish, and one lobster were collected in the vicinity of the sunken ships. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) in these samples were analyzed using gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (GC/ITMS). The average recoveries ranged from 78% to 104% for the different PCB congeners. The limits of detection (LOD) for PCBs, PCTs, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin ranged 10-50 pg g⁻¹. Some fish from Enewetak contained PCBs at a concentration range of 37-137 ng g⁻¹, dry weight (dw), and most of the soils from Enewetak showed evidence of PCBs (22-392 ng g⁻¹ dw). Most of the Bikini lagoon sediment samples contained PCBs, and the highest was the one collected from around the Saratoga, an aircraft carrier (1555 ng g⁻¹ dw). Some of the fish samples, most of the soil samples, and only one of the sediment samples contained 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE) and PCBs. In addition to PCBs, the soils from Enewetak Atoll contained PCTs. PCTs were not detected in the sediment samples from Bikini Atoll. The results suggest local pollution sources of PCBs, PCTs, and OCPs.     

Spatial distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in an e-waste dismantling region in Southeast China: Use of apple snail (Ampullariidae) as a bioindicator

Fengjiang is a large e-waste dismantling site located in southeast China. In this paper, apple snail and soil samples were collected from this e-waste dismantling site and 25 vicinal towns to investigate the contamination status, spatial distributions and congener patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Total PCB concentrations in apple snails (3.78-1812 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw)) were significant higher than that in soil samples (0.48-90.1 ng g⁻¹ dw). PBDE (excluding BDE 209) concentrations in apple snail and soil samples ranged from 0.09 to 27.7 ng g⁻¹ dw and 0.06 to 31.2 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in snails and soils correlated negatively with the distance from Fengjiang. Both the concentrations and profiles of the pollutants were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) between the snail and soil samples, indicating the suitability of apple snail as a reliable bioindicator for PCBs and PBDEs contamination in this region. Relatively high concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs at locations far from e-waste dismantling sites implied that these pollutants have been transported to surrounding regions.     

A human health risk assessment of rare earth elements in soil and vegetables from a mining area in Fujian Province,Southeast China

Contaminated food through dietary intake has become the main potential risk impacts on human health. This study investigated concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil, vegetables, human hair and blood, and assessed human health risk through vegetables consumption in the vicinity of a large-scale mining area located in Hetian Town of Changting County, Fujian Province, Southeast China. The results of the study included the following mean concentrations for total and bio-available REEs of 242.92 ± 68.98 (135.85–327.56) μg g⁻¹ and 118.59 ± 38.49 (57.89–158.96) μg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) in agricultural soil, respectively, and total REEs of 3.58 ± 5.28 (0.07–64.42) μg g⁻¹ dw in vegetable samples. Concentrations of total REEs in blood and hair collected from the local residents ranged from 424.76 to 1274.80 μg L⁻¹ with an average of 689.74 ± 254.25 μg L⁻¹ and from 0.06 to 1.59 μg g⁻¹ with an average of 0.48 ± 0.59 μg g⁻¹ of the study, respectively. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between REEs in blood and corresponding soil samples (R² = 0.6556, p < 0.05), however there was no correlation between REEs in hair and corresponding soils (p > 0.05). Mean concentrations of REEs of 2.85 (0.59–10.24) μg L⁻¹ in well water from the local households was 53-fold than that in the drinking water of Fuzhou city (0.054 μg L⁻¹). The health risk assessment indicated that vegetable consumption would not result in exceeding the safe values of estimate daily intake (EDI) REEs (100−110 μg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) for adults and children, but attention should be paid to monitoring human beings health in such rare earth mining areas due to long-term exposure to high dose REEs from food consumptions.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in seven different marine bird species from Iceland

Data on distribution, concentration and trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is scarce in biota from the sub-Arctic region of the Atlantic. The present study is an investigation on PBDE and HBCD concentrations in eggs from seven marine bird species from Iceland, i.e. common eider (Somateria mollissima), arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), guillemot (Uria aalge), fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) and great skua (Stercorarius skua). Concentrations of sum PBDEs ranged from 44 ng g⁻¹ fat in eider eggs to 2400 ng g⁻¹ fat in great skua eggs. The contribution of different PBDE congeners to the sum concentration differed between species. Concentration of HBCDs (sum of α−,β⁻ and γ−HBCD) ranged from 1.3 ng g⁻¹ fat in arctic tern eggs to 41 ng g⁻¹ fat in great black-backed gull. PCA on PBDE and HBCD shows different trends between the two BFR groups, further indicating different sources/usage. Investigations on any potential health or population effects of environmental pollutants on the great skua are advised since both the PBDE and HBCD concentrations are high.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine fish from four areas of China

The levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in marine fish from four areas of China (South China Sea, Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and Yellow Sea) using GC/NCI-MS and GC/ITMS, respectively. Total concentrations of eight PBDEs (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209) in all samples ranged from 0.3 ng g⁻¹ ww (wet weight) to 700 ng g⁻¹ ww, with median and mean values of 85 ng g⁻¹ ww and 200 ng g⁻¹ ww, respectively. BDE-209 and BDE-47 were the major congeners in all samples, contributing 54% and 19% to the total concentration, respectively. The sum of seven indicator PCB levels (CB-28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) ranged from 0.3 ng g⁻¹ ww to 3.1 μg g⁻¹ ww, with median and mean values of 6.4 ng g⁻¹ ww and 398 ng g⁻¹ ww, respectively. High contributions of CB-138 (32%) and CB-153 (25%) were found in all samples. In general, pollutants measured in this study were at high levels when compared with previous studies from other regions in the world. The relative abundance of BDE-209 may suggest that deca-BDE sources existed in studied area. And principal component analysis (PCA) showed that there were other PBDE sources in Yellow Sea. The pattern and PCA showed that PCB pollutions came from similar sources in the studied areas. In addition, concentrations of ∑₇PBDEs (u/209) were strongly correlated with those of ∑₇PCBs in all fish (r = 0.907, n = 44).     

Stability considerations of aspartame in the direct analysis of artificial sweeteners in water samples using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)

A HPLC-MS/MS method is presented for the simultaneous determination of frequently used artificial sweeteners (ASs) and the main metabolite of aspartame (ASP), diketopiperazine (DKP), in environmental water samples using the direct-injection (DI) technique, thereby achieving limits of quantification (LOQ) of 10 ng L⁻¹. For a reliable quantification of ASP pH should be adjusted to 4.3 to prevent formation of the metabolite. Acesulfame (ACE), saccharin (SAC), cyclamate (CYC) and sucralose (SUC) were ubiquitously found in water samples. Highest concentrations up to 61 μg L⁻¹ of ACE were found in wastewater effluents, followed by surface water with concentrations up to 7 μg L⁻¹, lakes up to 600 ng L⁻¹ and groundwater and tap water up to 70 ng L⁻¹. The metabolite DKP was only detected in wastewater up to 200 ng L⁻¹ and at low detection frequencies.     

PBDE and PCB contamination of eels from the Gironde estuary: from glass eels to silver eels

Since the 1980s, the eel population has been decreasing dangerously. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the suspected causes of this decline. A preliminary study of PCB contamination carried out on different fish from the Gironde estuary (southwest of France, Europe) has shown a relatively high level of contamination of eel muscles. In order to characterize the contamination level of PCBs and PBDEs (PolyBrominated Diphenyl-Ethers) in eels from this estuary more than 240 eels were collected during the years 2004-2005 in the Gironde estuarine system, from glass eels to silver eels. Individual European eels were grouped according to length and localization sites. The results have shown a low contamination level of glass eels: respectively 28 ± 11 ng g⁻¹ dw for PCBs and 5 ± 3 ng g⁻¹ dw for PBDEs. The contamination level in eels (expressed in ng g⁻¹ dw) increases from glass eels to silver eels up to 3399 ng g⁻¹ dw of PCBs for the most contaminated silver eel. Such levels of PCBs similar to those observed in Northern Europe, could raise sanitary problems connected with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. These results are worrying for the local people who regularly eat eels caught in the Gironde estuary.     

Environmental occurrence and fate of semifluorinated n-alkanes in snow and soil samples from a ski area

Semifluorinated n-alkanes (SFAs) with carbon chain lengths of 22 to approximately 36 atoms are present in fluorinated ski waxes to reduce the friction between ski base and snow, resulting in a better glide. Semifluorinated n-alkenes (SFAenes) are byproducts in the production process of SFAs and are also found in ski waxes. Snow and soil samples from a ski area in Sweden were taken after a large skiing competition and after snowmelt, respectively, and analyzed for SFAs and SFAenes. Single analyte concentrations in snow (analyzed as melt water) ranged from a few ng L⁻¹ up to 300 μg L⁻¹. ∑SFA concentrations decreased significantly from the start to the finish of the ski trail. Single analyte concentrations in soil ranged up to 9 ng g⁻¹ dw. ∑SFA concentrations in soil did not show a trend along the ski trail. This may be due to the fact that concentrations in soil, although strongly influenced by the competition, reflect inputs during the whole skiing season. The chemical inventory in snow was greater than the inventory in soil for shorter chain SFAs (C₂₂C₂₈) and for all SFAenes. Additionally, a significant change in SFA patterns between snow and soil samples was found. These observations suggested volatilization of shorter chain SFAs and of SFAenes during snowmelt. Evidence for long-term accumulation of SFAs in surface soil over several skiing seasons was not found.     

Characterization of polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants in sludge,sediment and fish from municipal dumpsite at Surabaya,Indonesia

We investigated the PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs contamination in sludge, sediments and fish from various locations including raw leachate pond, leachate treatment plans (LTPs), control wells and reference site at open landfill of municipal dumpsite, Surabaya City, Indonesia. 62 PCBs and 14 PBDEs congeners, and 3 HBCDs isomers were identified and quantified using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS, respectively. Concentration ranges and median (value in parentheses) of PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs were from not detected (ND) to 60 (3.9) ng g⁻¹ dw, 0.0075 to 45 (4.5) ng g⁻¹ dw and ND to 2.8 (0.052) ng g⁻¹ dw in sludge and sediments, respectively. While in two polled of fish samples were 30–55 ng g⁻¹ lw, 6.6–11 ng g⁻¹ lw and 1.6–3.3 ng g⁻¹ lw, respectively. Among the sampling sites, the highest level of PCBs and PBDEs were detected in sludge from raw leachate pond. However, PCBs and PBDEs levels were showing decreased in LTP-1 that could be due to the bacterial degradation but not in LTP-2, HBCDs were more stable in both LTPs. Levels of PCBs and BFRs in sludge at the present study were lower than those reported in sewage sludge reported from some other countries. PCBs profiles were mainly composed in that order by CB-138, -153, -180, -101, -118 and -28, while by BDE-47, -99, -100, -153, -154 and -28 for PBDEs in sludge, sediments and fish. Profiles of HBCDs were predominantly composed by γ- and α-isomers in sludge and fish, respectively. Debromination, dechlorination, commercial formulations used and congener-specific accumulation of those contaminants are the factors influenced the profiles.     

Occurrence of multiclass UV filters in treated sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. So far, there is only one extensive survey on the occurrence of UV filter residues in sewage sludge. However, more data are required to draw a reliable picture of the fate and effects of these compounds in the environment. This study attempts to fill this gap through the determination of selected UV filters and derivatives namely 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor, benzophenone-3, octocrylene, ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate, ethylhexyldimethyl PABA, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, and 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone in treated sewage sludge.The target compounds were extracted using pressurized liquid extraction and after this, determined by ultra high resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The determination was fast and sensitive, affording limits of detection lower than 19 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) except for 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (60 ng g⁻¹ dw). Good recovery rates, especially given the high complexity of sludge matrix (between 70% and 102% except for 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (30%)) were achieved.The application of developed method allowed reporting for the first time the occurrence of two major degradation products of benzophenone-3 that have estrogenic activity in sewage sludge: 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (in 5/15 WWTPs) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (in 1/15 WWTPs). Results revealed the presence of UV filters in 15 wastewater treatment plants in Catalonia (Spain) at concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 9.17 μg g⁻¹ dw.     

Reversed association between levels of prostate specific antigen and levels of blood cadmium and urinary cadmium

Prostate cancer associated with cadmium exposure may indicate a link between prostate specific antigen (PSA) and levels of blood cadmium (BCd) and urinary cadmium (UCd). Thus, these associations were investigated. We recruited 295 men, 50 years of age and above from a health check-up program at a health center as subjects of the study. They completed a self-reported questionnaire and provided fasting samples of blood and urine for cadmium assay. The assay was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood samples were also collected for the assays of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein measures. The means of BCd and UCd increased with age and the means of all subjects were 1.19 ± 1.04 μg L⁻¹ and 1.37 ± 1.76 μg g⁻¹ creatinine, respectively. The PSA levels were positively associated with the lipid levels, but reversely associated with BCd and UCd levels. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that men with PSA ? 4.0 ng mL⁻¹ had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.4 (95% CI = 0.1-0.9) to have BCd > 0.49 μg L⁻¹, and an OR of 0.4 (95% CI = 0.2-1.0) to have UCd > 0.45 μg g⁻¹ creatinine. In conclusion, the PSA levels are reversely associated with BCd and UCd levels.