Enantioselective and nonenantioselective degradation of organic pollutants in the marine ecosystem

Selective bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and dissipation of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in a freshwater food chain

Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), having potential risks to humans and ecosystem. This work evaluated the propensity of organisms to accumulate, eliminate, and transfer HCHs along the food chain (Tubifex tubifex and common carp (Cyprinus carpio)). The accumulation of HCHs from water by worms and carp was observed, and the concentrations increased with exposure time. After 8 days, the HCH concentrations in organisms remained stable. The accumulation factor (AF) values of HCHs in T. tubifex were higher than those in carp, indicating that the bioaccumulation abilities of HCHs in T. tubifex were higher than those in carp. The contaminated worms as a dietary source in the food chain led to significantly higher bioaccumulation in carp. The biomagnification factor (BMF) values of HCH isomers were all greater than 1. In the dissipation experiments, the elimination was fast and the half-lives were shorter than 2.5 days. The enantioselective accumulation and dissipation of α-HCH enantiomers were observed in worms and carp (food chain), and the enantiomeric differences should be taken into consideration in the study of contaminants risk assessment. The results on trophic transfer of HCHs in a freshwater food chain should be helpful for better understanding the fate, transport, and transfer of HCHs in freshwater environments.

Chiral xenobiotics bioaccumulations and environmental health prospectives

The chiral xenobiotics are very dangerous for all of us due to the different enantioselective toxicities of the enantiomers. Besides, these have different enantioselective bioaccumulations and behaviors in our body and other organisms. It is of urgent need to understand the enantioselective bioaccumulations, toxicities, and the health hazards of the chiral xenobiotics. The present article describes the classification, sources of contamination, distribution, enantioselective bioaccumulation, and the toxicities of the chiral xenobiotics. Besides, the efforts are also made to discuss the prevention and remedial measures of the havoc of the chiral xenobiotics. The challenges of the chiral xenobiotics have also been highlighted. Finally, future prospectives are also discussed.

Compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) to characterize transformation mechanisms of α-hexachlorocyclohexane

A systematic investigation of environmentally relevant transformation processes of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) was performed in order to explore the potential of compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) to characterize reaction mechanisms. The carbon isotope enrichment factors (ɛC) for the chemical transformations of α-HCH via direct photolysis, indirect photolysis (UV/H2O2), hydrolysis, electro-reduction or reduction by Fe(0) were quantified and compared to those previously published for biodegradation. Hydrogen abstraction by hydroxyl radicals generated by UV/H2O2 led to ɛC of -1.9 ± 0.2 ‰ with an apparent kinetic carbon isotope effect (AKIEC) of 1.012 ± 0.001. Dehydrochlorination by alkaline hydrolysis yielded ɛC of -7.6 ± 0.4 ‰ with AKIEC of 1.048 ± 0.003. Dechlorination either by homolytic bond cleavage in direct photolysis (ɛC=-2.8 ± 0.2 ‰) or single-electron transfer in electro-reduction (ɛC=-3.8 ± 0.4 ‰) corresponded to AKIEC of 1.017 ± 0.001 and 1.023 ± 0.003, respectively. Dichloroelimination catalyzed by Fe(0) via two-electron transfers resulted in ɛC of -4.9 ± 0.1 ‰. AKIEC values assuming either a concerted or a stepwise mechanism were 1.030 ± 0.0006 and 1.015 ± 0.0003, respectively. Contrary to biodegradation, no enantioselectivity of α-HCH was observed in chemical reactions, which might be used to discriminate chemical and biological in situ transformations.

Residues and enantiomeric profiling of organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Xinghua Bay, southern East China Sea

The spatial distribution and chiral signatures of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the surface sediments of Xinghua Bay, southern East China Sea, were investigated. The total OCP concentrations ranged from 9.15 to 40.5 ng/g dry weight, with a predominance of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs). The isomer ratios of α-HCH/γ-HCH (less than 1.0) and the predominant β-HCH implied that HCH residues were derived not only from historical technical HCH use but also from the additional use of lindane in this area. The isomer ratios of p,p'-DDT/(p,p'-DDD + p,p'-DDE) and o,p'-DDT/p,p''-DDT, and a strong correlation (R = 0.83, P < 0.001) between p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDT depicted a cocktail input pattern of dicofol-type DDT and technical DDT. Moreover, the fact that only cis-chlordane was detectable for all sampling stations suggested the past application of technical chlordane. Based on the sediment quality guidelines (SQG), γ-HCH is the main OCP species of ecotoxicological concern in Xinghua Bay. Enantiomeric analysis showed that the (+)-enantiomers of α-HCH and o,p'-DDT were more prevalent than the (-)-enantiomers in most samples, whereas both racemic and nonracemic residues existed for o,p'-DDD. These results implied that the SQG of chiral OCPs should be reassessed using concentrations of their individual enantiomers.

Enantiomer-selective and quantitative trace analysis of selected persistent organic pollutants (POP) in traditional food from western Greenland

Enantiomeric fractions (EF) are today considered a powerful tool to elucidate selective uptake processes of chiral contaminants in biota. In this study, concentration levels and EF were determined by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS) for α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) and trans-, cis-, and oxychlordane in selected Greenlandic traditional food items, collected at the local market in Nuuk in 2010. The food items selected were raw and smoked fish (salmon and halibut, n = 6), whale meat (n = 8), seal meat (n = 2) and narwhal mattak (skin and blubber, n = 6). The EF were nonracemic (≠0.5) for all samples except for α-HCH in narwhal, trans-chlordane in whale and smoked salmon, and cis- and oxychlordane in seal. The EF for α-HCH were significant for all fish samples, but not for mammalian samples. Data indicate that different uptake and/or transformation mechanisms may be responsible for nonracemic distributions of chiral pesticides in mammals and fish species analyzed. There were no general enantiomer-selective transformation/accumulation trends found for chlordanes. Data indicate that enantiomer-specific properties are an important prerequisite for interaction of chiral contaminant with internal metabolic processes. However, marked differences within these groups were identified. The EF in ringed seals were racemic for most of the analyzed pesticides (i.e., chlordanes). However, narwhal were characterized by nonracemic EF for all chiral pesticides analyzed. Median levels of α-HCH ranged from 2 to 24 ng/g lw and from 15.1 to 626.6 ng/g lw for trans-nonachlor, with lowest levels observed in smoked salmon and highest levels in narwhal mattak. This study confirmed that concentration levels of analyzed pesticides in the investigated food items were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) threshold.

Diastereoselective metabolism of a novel cis-nitromethylene neonicotinoid paichongding in aerobic soils

Many pesticides are chiral but used as racemic mixtures, even though their stereoisomers are often degraded stereoselectively in soils. Evaluation of degradation of chiral compounds is mostly focused on the enantioselectivity rather than diastereoselectivity/epimer preferences. In this study, we explored the diastereoselective transformation of paichongding (IPP), a novel chiral neonicotinoid with broad-spectrum insecticidal activity, to several degradation intermediates in different soils. (14)C-Labeling coupled with LC-MS/MS and high resolution MS were used to track residues of IPP and identify major transformation metabolites. The stereoisomers of IPP known as 5R, 7R-IPP (RR-IPP), 5S, 7S-IPP (SS-IPP), 5S, 7R-IPP (SR-IPP), and 5R, 7S-IPP (RS-IPP) showed diastereoselective/epimer-selective persistence in all soils except an acidic clay soil. Moreover, IPP was transformed to a range of degradation intermediates (M1-M6), which also showed significant diastereoselective and soil preferential formation. Depropylation, nitrosylation, denitration, demethylation, dehydroxylation, and ketonization contributed to IPP transformation. The diastereoselective degradation of the parent compound and formation of incomplete intermediates implies that diastereomers/epimers should be regarded as different chemicals. The approach of coupling (14)C and MS may be used as an effective tool to understand the environmental processes and risks of other man-made chiral compounds.

Chlordane and heptachlor are metabolized enantioselectively by rat liver microsomes

Chlordane, heptachlor, and their metabolites are chiral persistent organic pollutants that undergo enantiomeric enrichment in the environment. This study investigated the enantioselective metabolism of both chlordane isomers and heptachlor, major components of technical chlordane, by liver microsomes prepared from male rats treated with corn oil (CO) or inducers of CYP2B (PB; phenobarbital) and CYP3A enzymes (DX; dexamethasone), isoforms induced by chlordane treatment. The extent of the metabolism of all three parent compounds was dependent on the microsomal preparation used and followed the rank order PB > DX > CO. The mass balances ranged from 49 to 130% of the parent compound added to the microsomal incubations. Both cis- and trans-chlordane were enantioselectively metabolized to oxychlordane (EF = 0.45-0.89) and 1,2-dichlorochlordene (EF = 0.42-0.90). Heptachlor was metabolized enantioselectively, with heptachlor epoxide B (EF = 0.44-0.54) being the only metabolite. Interestingly, the direction on the enrichment for oxychlordane, 1,2-dichlorochlordene, and heptachlor epoxide differed depending on the microsomal preparation. These findings demonstrate that the direction and extent of the enantioselective metabolism of both chlordane isomers and heptachlor is P450 isoform-dependent and can be modulated by the induction of P450 enzymes.

Enantiomeric fraction as an indicator of pharmaceutical biotransformation during wastewater treatment and in the environment--a review

Enantioselective analysis of some pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment has the potential to reveal significant insights regarding the effectiveness of biotransformation processes. Furthermore, enantioselective analysis of chiral pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment may provide a useful historical record revealing the dominant source of (treated or untreated) wastewater contamination. This review of the recent scientific literature has identified only a handful of studies that have directly investigated these promising applications. However, a range of enantioselective analytical techniques are likely to be adaptable from those which have been developed within the pharmaceutical industry. These include direct enantioseparations of enantiomers on chiral stationary phases as well as indirect separations by achiral stationary phases after chiral derivatization to form pairs of physically distinguishable diastereomers. Further investigations of the patterns of enantiomeric fractionation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and environmental samples will provide an increasingly solid understanding of the relationship between biotransformation processes and the often overlooked parameter of enantiomeric fraction.

Enantioselective behavior of alpha-HCH in mouse and quail tissues

alpha-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) is chiral and can still be detected in almost all environmental media. In this study, the enantioselective behavior of alpha-HCH in mice (CD1) and quail (Coturnix japonica) was investigated and compared after a single dose of exposure. The primary nerve cell culture was conducted to evaluate the enantioselective metabolic capacity of nerve cells of mouse and quail for alpha-HCH. In various tissues of the mice and quail, the alpha-HCH concentrations showed a typical pattern of first-order dynamics after exposure. The enantiomeric fractions (EFs) in nonbrain tissues of mice decreased substantially, indicating continuous depletion of (+)-alpha-HCH in mice. Tissue-specific EF trends in quail and enantioselective degradation of (-)-alpha-HCH in quail liver were observed. These observations indicated that the dynamic changes of EFs in mice and quail were independent of concentration changes in the same tissues. In brain tissues, the enantioenrichment of (+)-enantiomer was totally independent of their concentrations in blood. The in vitro metabolism of alpha-HCH in the primary nerve cells were negligible, and the slight EF changes in primary nerve cells demonstrated that metabolism, uptake, and excretion in the brain cells would not lead to the observed dramatic enantioenrichment of (+)-alpha-HCH in the brain tissues of the two animals. The enantioselective transport across the blood-brain barrier was the primary cause for the enantioenrichment of (+)-alpha-HCH in the brain tissues.

Enantiomer fractions of polychlorinated biphenyls in three selected Standard Reference Materials

The enantiomer composition of six chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in three different certified Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): SRM 1946 (Lake Superior fish tissue), SRM 1939a (PCB Congeners in Hudson River Sediment), and SRM 2978 (organic contaminants in mussel tissue--Raritan Bay, New Jersey) to aid in quality assurance/quality control methodologies in the study of chiral pollutants in sediments and biota. Enantiomer fractions (EFs) of PCBs 91, 95, 136, 149, 174, and 183 were measured using a suite of chiral columns by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Concentrations of target analytes were in agreement with certified values. Target analyte EFs in reference materials were measured precisely (<2% relative standard deviation), indicating the utility of SRM in quality assurance/control methodologies for analyses of chiral compounds in environmental samples. Measured EFs were also in agreement with previously published analyses of similar samples, indicating that similar enantioselective processes were taking place in these environmental matrices.

Stereoselective degradation kinetics of theta-cypermethrin in rats

The enantioselective degradation and chiral conversion of theta-cypermethrin (TCYM) in rats have been studied via intravenous (i.v.) injection. The degradation kinetics and the enantiomer fraction (EF) were determined by means of normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) and a cellulosetris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phase (CDMPC-CSP). The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The degradation of the (+)-TCYM was much faster than that of the (-)-TCYM in plasma, heart, liver, kidney, and fat after administration of racemic TCYM (rac-TCYM). The EFs were over 0.500 in these tissues and muscle. The results showed the conversion of (+)-enantiomer to (-)-enantiomer in plasma after injection of (-)- and (+)-TCYM separately. The results for the major differences in the degradation of the enantiomers may have some implication for the environmental and ecological risks assessment for chiral pesticides.

Application of capillary electrophoresis to study the enantioselective transformation of five chiral pesticides in aerobic soil slurries

The enantiomers of five chiral pesticides of environmental interest, metalaxyl, imazaquin, fonofos (dyfonate), ruelene (cruformate), and dichlorprop, were separated analytically using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with cyclodextrin chiral selectors. For metalaxyl, imazaquin, and fonofos, aqueous slurries of soil samples from two sites in Georgia and one in Ohio were spiked with the racemate of each pesticide at 50-60 mg/L of aqueous phase of the slurry, and CE analyses were performed at various time intervals to determine enantiomer fractions (EF). Metalaxyl underwent enantioselective transformation; in one soil, the half-life of the target active R-(+)-enantiomer was 17 days while that for the S-(-)-enantiomer was 69 days. Transformation occurred more slowly in the other two soils but was still selective for the R-(+)-enantiomer. Imazaquin and fonofos exhibited nonselective enantiomer loss over their 3 months of incubation time; this could have been due to abiotic or nonselective microbial reactions. Ruelene and dichlorprop were transformed selectively in a variety of soils in a previously reported study (7) that showed the influence of environmental changes on the transformation of chiral pollutants in soils; analytical methods used in that study are reported here to further illustrate the application of CE. CE is shown to be a simple, efficient, and inexpensive way to follow the transformation of chiral pesticides in laboratory microcosms where concentrations can be made high enough (25-50 mg/L initial racemate concentration) for detection of residual parent enantiomers during most of the process.

Ultrasonic extraction followed by sulfuric acid silica gel cleanup for the determination of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane enantiomers in biota samples

Interest in the analysis of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) enantiomers as an alternative or complementary approach to elucidating isomer ratios of alpha/gamma-HCH has grown in recent years because it can provide useful information to evaluate the influence of different degradation and transformation processes. In this paper, a simple and rapid method for the determination of alpha-HCH enantiomers in biota samples is described. The method developed consists of ultrasonic extraction, sulfuric acid silica gel cleanup, solid-phase extraction (SPE) column fractionation, and final determination with chiral high-resolution gas chromatography. Ultrasonic extraction greatly shortens the extraction process time, and the sulfuric acid silica gel and SPE cleanup perfectly remove lipids and other interference compounds in the lipid-rich samples. The method is found to be simple, less time-consuming, and easy to operate, thus providing a useful alternative method to assess the enantioselective breakdown of alpha-HCH in biota system.

Separation and analysis of diastereomers and enantiomers of cypermethrin and cyfluthrin by gas chromatography

Synthetic pyrethroid (SP) insecticides are of environmental significance because of their high aquatic toxicity. Due to their chirality, SP compounds contain multiple diastereomers and enantiomers. However, due to great structural similarities and lack of isomer standards, gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of SP diastereomers or enantiomers is poorly developed. In this study, we used a HP-5 column to separate the diastereomers and a beta-cyclodextrin-based enantioselective column (BGB-172) to separate the enantiomers of cypermethrin (CP) and cyfluthrin (CF). Resolved peaks were identified by comparing chromatograms of isomer-enriched CP products. Diastereomers of both CP and CF were separated on the HP-5 column. On the BGB-172 column, enantiomers of all cis diastereomers were separated, while those of trans diastereomers were not separated. The elution order appears to be regulated by configuration, a finding which may allow peak identification in the absence of isomer standards. When coupled with electron capture detection, the developed methods had low detection limits and may be used for analysis of SP diastereomers and enantiomers in environmental samples.

Understanding enantioselective processes: a laboratory rat model for alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane accumulation

Since cyclodextrin gas chromatography columns became popular for chiral separations, many researchers have noticed high enantiomeric ratios [ER: (+)-enantiomer/(-)-enantiomer] for alpha-HCH in the brains of wildlife. This investigation used the laboratory rat as a model for these phenomena. Rats were either pretreated with phenobarbital (PB) or left untreated and then dosed with alpha-HCH. Animals were sacrificed after 1 or 24 h. The ER averaged 0.95 +/- 0.01 in blood, 1.29 +/- 0.02 in fat, and 0.77 +/- 0.004 in liver. ERs in brain ranged from 2.8 +/- 0.5 to 13.5 +/- 0.4. Both the tissue concentration distribution and the ERs agree well with those previously reported in wildlife. To determine whether high brain ERs were due to enantioselective metabolism or transport through the blood-brain barrier, alpha-HCH exposed brain and liver tissue slices were compared. Concentrations in the brain slices did not decrease with PB pretreatment but did decrease in the liver slices. Enantiomeric ratios in the brain slices averaged 1.11 +/- 0.02 and were 0.76 +/- 0.03 in liver slices for the PB pretreated rats. These data indicate that the enantioselective metabolism of alpha-HCH by the brain is not the mechanism responsible for high ERs in this tissue.

Contaminants in the Canadian Arctic: 5 years of progress in understanding sources, occurrence and pathways

Recent studies of contaminants under the Canadian Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) have substantially enhanced our understanding of the pathways by which contaminants enter Canada's Arctic and move through terrestrial and marine ecosystems there. Building on a previous review (Barrie et al., Arctic contaminants: sources, occurrence and pathways. Sci Total Environ 1992:1-74), we highlight new knowledge developed under the NCP on the sources, occurrence and pathways of contaminants (organochlorines, Hg, Pb and Cd, PAHs, artificial radionuclides). Starting from the global scale, we examine emission histories and sources for selected contaminants focussing especially on the organochlorines. Physical and chemical properties, transport processes in the environment (e.g. winds, currents, partitioning), and models are then used to identify, understand and illustrate the connection between the contaminant sources in industrial and agricultural regions to the south and the eventual arrival of contaminants in remote regions of the Arctic. Within the Arctic, we examine how contaminants impinge on marine and terrestrial pathways and how they are subsequently either removed to sinks or remain where they can enter the biosphere. As a way to focus this synthesis on key concerns of northern residents, a number of special topics are examined including: a mass balance for HCH and toxaphene (CHBs) in the Arctic Ocean; a comparison of PCB sources within Canada's Arctic (Dew Line Sites) with PCBs imported through long-range transport; an evaluation of concerns posed by three priority metals--Hg, Pb and Cd; an evaluation of the risks from artificial radionuclides in the ocean; a review of what is known about new-generation pesticides that are replacing the organochlorines; and a comparison of natural vs. anthropogenic sources of PAH in the Arctic. The research and syntheses provide compelling evidence for close connectivity between the global emission of contaminants from industrial and agricultural activities and the Arctic. For semi-volatile compounds that partition strongly into cold water (e.g. HCH) we have seen an inevitable loading of Arctic aquatic reservoirs. Drastic HCH emission reductions have been rapidly followed by reduced atmospheric burdens with the result that the major reservoir and transport agent has become the ocean. In the Arctic, it will take decades for the upper ocean to clear itself of HCH. For compounds that partition strongly onto particles, and for which the soil reservoir is most important (e.g. PCBs), we have seen a delay in their arrival in the Arctic and some fractionation toward more volatile compounds (e.g. lower-chlorinated PCBs). Despite banning the production of PCB in the 1970s, and despite decreases of PCBs in environmental compartments in temperate regions, the Arctic presently shows little evidence of reduced PCB loadings. We anticipate a delay in PCB reductions in the Arctic and environmental lifetimes measured in decades. Although artificial radionuclides have caused great concern due to their direct disposal on Russian Shelves, they are found to pose little threat to Canadian waters and, indeed, much of the radionuclide inventory can be explained as remnant global fallout, which was sharply curtailed in the 1960s, and waste emissions released under license by the European reprocessing plants. Although Cd poses a human dietary concern both for terrestrial and marine mammals, we find little evidence that Cd in marine systems has been impacted by human activities. There is evidence of contaminant Pb in the Arctic, but loadings appear presently to be decreasing due to source controls (e.g. removal of Pb from gasoline) in Europe and North America. Of the metals, Hg provokes the greatest concern; loadings appear to be increasing in the Arctic due to global human activities, but such loadings are not evenly distributed nor are the pathways by which they enter and move within the Arctic well understood.

Chromatographic enantiomer separation of chiral xenobiotics and their metabolites--a versatile tool for process studies in marine and terrestrial ecosystems

A review discussing methodical aspects of enantioselective chromatographic separation of chiral environmental xenobiotics as well as examples for process studies reported in literature. The process studies include microbial transformation of chiral pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, their enzymatic transformation in biota, their photochemical degradation, air/sea exchange processes and atmospheric long range transport, and enantioselective toxic effects.

Levels and enantiomeric ratios of alpha-HCH, oxychlordane, and PCB 149 in blubber of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from Iceland and further species

The chiral stationary phase beta-TBDM (35% heptakis(6-O-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-2,3-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyc lod extrin in OV-1701) was applied to study the enantioenrichment of alpha-HCH, oxychlordane, and PCB 149 in blubber of two seal species from Iceland by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The examined harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) showed alpha-HCH enantiomeric ratios (ER) > 1. The ER of PCB 149 was comparable in the two species from Iceland but for oxychlordane ER < 1 was observed in harbour seals while the oxychlordane ER in grey seals was > 1. In blubber of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes Weddelli) from the Antarctic we determined an alpha-HCH ER < 1 which is in contrast to the Icelandic seal species and a sample from Lake Baikal.

Enantioselective gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of methylsulfonyl PCBs with application to arctic marine mammals

Four different commercially available cyclodextrin (CD) capillary gas chromatography (GC) columns were tested for the enantioselective separation of nine environmentally persistent atropisomeric 3- and 4-methylsulfonyl PCBs (MeSO2-CBs). The selected columns contained cyclodextrins with various cavity diameters (beta- or gamma-CD), which were methylated and/or tert-butyldimethylsilylated (TBDMS) in the 2,3,6-O-positions. The beta-CD column with TBDMS substituents in all of the 2,3,6-O-positions was by far the most selective column for the MeSO2-CBs tested. Enantiomers of congeners with 3-MeSO2 substitution were more easily separated than those with 4-MeSO2 substitution. The separation also seemed to be enhanced for congeners with the chlorine atoms on the non-MeSO2-containing ring and clustered on one side of the same ring. The 2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-TBDMS-beta-CD was found to give somewhat better selectivity than the corresponding gamma-CD, in comparison between the two columns, which were identical in all other respects. Enantioselective analysis of arctic ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adipose tissue revealed a strong dominance of certain enantiomers. For example, the enantiomer ratio (ER) of 3-MeSO2-CB149 was 0.32 and < 0.1 in ringed seal blubber and polar bear fat, respectively. These low ER values are indicative of highly enantioselective formation, enantioselective metabolism, enantioselective transport across cell membranes, or a combination of the three in both species. Comparable results for the enantiomeric analysis of MeSO2-CBs in biotic tissue extracts were obtained using two highly selective mass spectrometric techniques, ion trap mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and electron capture negative ion low-resolution mass spectrometry.

Enantioselective determination of chiral organochlorine compounds in biota by gas chromatography on modified cyclodextrins

Approaches to the gas chromatographic enantiomer separation of chiral organchlorines (alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, cis- and trans-chlordane, heptachlor, heptachlorepoxide, oxychlordane, o,p'-DDT, compounds of technical toxaphene and stable atropisomeric polychlorinated biphenyls) are reviewed. Chiral stationary phases based on cyclodextrin derivatives and used for the gas chromatographic enantiomer separation of the chiral organochlorines are described. Enantiomeric ratios of chiral organochlorines in technical mixtures and biological samples are reported and discussed.

Levels of alpha-HCH, lindane, and enantiomeric ratios of alpha-HCH in marine mammals from the northern hemisphere

The enantiomeric ratios of alpha-HCH were determined by chiral gas chromatography in blubber of marine mammals from regions of the northern hemisphere (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Arctic and Iceland). Cetaceans (harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins) showed a preferential accumulation of (+)-alpha-HCH. In blubber of harbour seals, grey seals and harp seals (+)-alpha-HCH was also more abundant than (-)-alpha-HCH. Hooded seals formed an exception with a (+/-) enantiomeric ratio of alpha-HCH < 1.

Enantioselective degradation of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane and cyclodiene insecticides in roe-deer liver samples from different regions of Germany

Remarkably high concentrations of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH), cis-heptachlorepoxide and oxychlordane were found in roe-deer liver samples both from the northern and southern German states Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg, respectively. The data revealed no significant regional differences, but they showed some common characteristics: a preferential degradation of (+)-alpha-HCH, and a preferential enrichment of (+)-oxychlordane and of (+)-cis-heptachlorepoxide as determined by chiral capillary gas chromatography using modified cyclodextrin phases. Calculation of the spearman rank correlation coefficients rS supported the assumption that higher concentrations of alpha-HCH may result in a stronger decomposition of the (+)-enantiomer, while higher levels of cis-heptachlorepoxide and oxychlordane appear to lead to a faster decomposition of the respective (-)-enantiomer or a preferential formation of the respective (+)-enantiomer.