Determination of selected emerging contaminants in freshwater invertebrates using a universal extraction technique and liquid chromatography accurate mass spectrometry

Different isoforms of parabens into marine environment: Biological effects on the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Different isoforms of alkyl esters of p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, also known as parabens, are of great concern due to their widespread presence into the aquatic environment, their high concentrations in wastewater discharges, as well as their ability to induce adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Considering the imperative need for assessing their fate and risk to aquatic environment, the present study investigated the biological effects of two isoforms of parabens, methyl- (MeP) and propyl- (PrP), on the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri (using the Bioluminescence Inhibition/Microtox® bioassay) and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (in terms of mussel mortality, cellular, oxidative and genotoxic stress indices). The assessment of MeP and PrP behavior into aquatic media (artificial sea water/ASW and 2 % NaCl), primarily performed by UHPLC-UV-MS analysis, showed only a slight hydrolysis of PrP to 4-Hydrobenzoic acid (4-HBA). Furthermore, exposure of both species to different concentrations of each paraben revealed differences among their toxic potential, as well as their ability to cause cellular, oxidative and genotoxic effects on hemocytes of challenged mussels. Interestingly, the Microtox® bioassay showed that PrP mediated toxicity in A. fischeri were more pronounced than MeP, as revealed by the estimated toxic endpoints (in terms of concentration that promote 50 % of bioluminescence inhibition, EC50). Similarly, in challenged mussels, a significant disturbance of mussel hemocytes' lysosomal membrane integrity, as well as enhanced levels of superoxides, nitric oxides, lipid peroxidation byproducts, and micronuclei formation were observed. These findings are of great interest, since MeP and PrP differential toxic potential, as well their ability to induce pre-pathological alterations in marine species, like mussels, give new evidence for their risk to aquatic biota.

Triclosan and related compounds in the environment: Recent updates on sources, fates, distribution, analytical extraction, analysis, and removal techniques

Triclosan (TCS) has been widely used in daily life because of its broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. The residue of TCS and related compounds in the environment is one of the critical environmental safety problems, and the pandemic of COVID-19 aggravates the accumulation of TCS and related compounds in the environment. Therefore, detecting TCS and related compound residues in the environment is of great significance to human health and environmental safety. The distribution of TCS and related compounds are slightly different worldwide, and the removal methods also have advantages and disadvantages. This paper summarized the research progress on the source, distribution, degradation, analytical extraction, detection, and removal techniques of TCS and related compounds in different environmental samples. The commonly used analytical extraction methods for TCS and related compounds include solid-phase extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase microextraction, liquid-phase microextraction, and so on. The determination methods include liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, gas chromatography and related methods, sensors, electrochemical method, capillary electrophoresis. The removal techniques in various environmental samples mainly include biodegradation, advanced oxidation, and adsorption methods. Besides, both the pros and cons of different techniques have been compared and summarized, and the development and prospect of each technique have been given.

Novel Copper Oxide-Integrated Carbon Paste Tirofiban Voltammetric Sensor

The present study introduced the construction and electroanalytical characterization of novel tirofiban (TIR) carbon paste voltammetric sensors integrated with copper oxide nanoparticles. The copper oxide nanostructure remarkably enhanced the oxidation of TIR molecules on the electrode surface with an irreversible anodic oxidation peak at about 1.18 V. The peak current values of the recorded differential pulse voltammograms were correlated to the TIR concentrations within a defined linear range from 0.060 to 7.41 μg mL^-1 with an LOD value of 20.7 ng mL^-1. Based on the electrochemical behavior of TIR at different scan rates and with the aid of the molecular orbital calculations performed on the TIR molecule, the electro-oxidation reaction was postulated to undergo through the oxidation of the five-membered-ring nitrogen atom with the transfer of one electron and one proton. Based on the reported selectivity and sensitivity of the proposed method, TIR was successfully determined in Aggrastat intravenous infusion and biological samples with mean average recoveries agreeable with the UV spectrophotometric method.

Miniaturization of an extraction protocol for the monitoring of pesticides and polar transformation products in biotic matrices

Monitoring pesticides in the environment requires the use of sensitive analytical methods. However, existing methods are generally not suitable for analyzing small organisms, as they require large matrix masses. This study explores the development of a miniaturized extraction protocol for the monitoring of small organisms, based on only 30 mg of matrix. The miniaturized sample preparation was developed using fish and macroinvertebrate matrices. It allowed the characterization of 41 pesticides and transformation products (log P from -1.9 to 4.8) in small samples with LC-MS/MS, based on European guidelines (European Commission DG-SANTE, 2019). Quantification limits ranged from 3 to 460 ng g^-1 dry weight (dw) for fish and from 0.1 to 356 ng g^-1 dw for invertebrates, with most below 60 ng g^-1 dw. Extraction rates ranged from 70% to 120% for 35 molecules in fish. Recoveries ranged from 70% to 120% for 37 molecules in macroinvertebrates. Inter-day precision was below 30% for 32 molecules at quantification limits. The method was successfully applied to 17 fish and 19 macroinvertebrates collected from two ponds of the French region of Dombes in November and May 2018, respectively. Both sample matrices were nearly always contaminated with benzamide, imidacloprid-desnitro, and prosulfocarb at respective concentrations of 42-237, 3, and 30-165 ng g^-1 dw in fish, and 62-438, 2-6, and 15-29 ng g^-1 dw in macroinvertebrates. Results show that this method is an effective tool for characterizing polar pesticides in small biotic samples.

A review on analytical methods for pharmaceutical and personal care products and their transformation products

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and corresponding transformation products have caused widespread concern due to their persistent emissions and potential toxicity. They have wide octanol-water partition coefficients (K_ow) and different ionization constants (pK_a) resulting in a poor analysis accuracy and efficiency. A suitable analytical method is the first prerequisite for further research on their environmental behavior to prioritize the substances. This study reviewed a full-scale analytical protocol for environmental samples in the recent ten years: from sampling to instrumental methods. Passive sampling techniques were compared and recommended for long-term continuous and scientific observation. A quick and effective sample extraction and clean-up method are highly required. Chromatographic methods coupled to mass spectrometry for determining PPCPs with a wide range of logK_ow (-7.53 to 10.80) were summed up. High-resolution mass spectrometry was confirmed to be a promising strategy for screening unknown transformation products, which would provide a nanogram level of detection limits and more accurate mass resolution. Screening strategies and mass change principles were summarized in detail. The recovery rate was important in multiple contaminants analysis identification and factors affecting the recovery rate of PPCPs were also discussed in this review, including sample matrix, target compounds characteristics, extraction method and solid-phase adsorbent. This review provides useful information for the selection of appropriate analytical methods and future development directions.

Occurrence, toxic effects and removal of metformin in the aquatic environments in the world: Recent trends and perspectives

Metformin (MET) is the most common drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, but also it is used as an anticancer agent and as a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome. This drug is not metabolized in the human body, and may enter into the environment through different pathways. In wastewater treatments plants (WWTPs), this contaminant is mainly transformed to guanylurea (GUA). However, three further transformation products (TPs): (a) 2,4- diamino-1,3,5-triazine, 4-DAT; (b) 2-amino-4-methylamino-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4-AMT; and (c) methylbiguanide, MBG; have also been associated with its metabolism. MET, GUA and MBG have been found in WWTPs influents, effluents and surface waters. Furthermore, MET and GUA bioaccumulate in edible plants species, fish and mussels potentially contaminating the human food web. MET is also a potential endocrine disruptor in fish. Phytoremediation, adsorption and biodegradation have shown a high removal efficiency of MET, in laboratory. Nonetheless, these removal methods had less efficiency when tried in WWTPs. Therefore, MET and its TPs are a threat to the human being as well as to our environment. This review comprehensively discuss the (1) pathways of MET to the environment and its life-cycle, (2) occurrence of MET and its transformation products (3) removal, (4) toxic effects and (5) future trends and perspectives of possible methods of elimination in water in order to provide potential options for managing these contaminants.

Toxicity of methylparaben to green microalgae species and derivation of a predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) in freshwater ecosystems

Methylparaben (MeP) is one of the most used preservatives in the industry; however, the toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems are still poorly understood. Therefore, this study was conducted (1) to identify and compare the toxic effects of MeP on physiological parameters of different green microalgae species, using suitable mathematical models; and (2) to estimate a PNEC value for MeP in freshwater ecosystems, adopting either the deterministic or the probabilistic approaches. Toxicity tests were carried out with three green microalgae (Pseudopediastrum boryanum, Desmodesmus communis, Raphidocelis subcapitata), in which different endpoints such as growth rate, chlorophyll-a, and cell viability were measured and compared through the effective concentration which caused a response in x% of test organisms (ECx). ECx were obtained by adjusting different non-linear regression models for each microalgae dataset. Chlorophyll-a endpoint resulted in the lowest EC₅₀ values, respectively 125, 81.2, 18.3 mg L^-1 for D. communis, P. boryanum and R. subcapitata, showing R. subicapitata as the most sensitive, and D. communis as the most tolerant species to MeP (P < 0.05). PNEC was estimated from the present study and previous reports resulting in 5.7 and 65 μg L^-1, respectively for the deterministic (PNECd) and the probabilistic (PNECp) approach. The development of chronic assays using test organisms from different ecological groups is encouraged to provide robust PNECp. In this meantime, we recommend the use of the estimated PNECd to support MeP risk assessments and policy formulation.

Mapping Micro-Pollutants and Their Impacts on the Size Structure of Streambed Communities

Recently there has been increasing concern over the vast array of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) detected in streams and rivers worldwide. Understanding of the ecological implications of these compounds is limited to local scale case studies, partly as a result of technical limitations and a lack of integrative analyses. Here, we apply state-of-the-art instrumentation to analyze a complex suite of EOCs in the streambed of 30 UK streams and their effect on streambed communities. We apply the abundance–body mass (N–M) relationship approach as an integrative metric of the deviation of natural communities from reference status as a result of EOC pollution. Our analysis includes information regarding the N and M for individual prokaryotes, unicellular flagellates and ciliates, meiofauna, and macroinvertebrates. We detect a strong significant dependence of the N–M relationship coefficients with the presence of EOCs in the system, to the point of shielding the effect of other important environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and productivity. However, contrary to other stressors, EOC pollution showed a positive effect on the N–M coefficient in our work. This phenomenon can be largely explained by the increase in large-size tolerant taxa under polluted conditions. We discuss the potential implications of these results in relation to bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes. Our findings shed light on the impact of EOCs on the organization and ecology of the whole streambed community for the first time.

Detection, occurrence, and fate of emerging contaminants in agricultural environments (2019)

A review of 82 papers published in 2018 is presented. The topics ranged from detailed descriptions of analytical methods, to fate and occurrence studies, to ecological effects and sampling techniques for a wide variety of emerging contaminants likely to occur in agricultural environments. New methods and studies on veterinary pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and engineered nanomaterials in agricultural environments continue to expand our knowledge base on the occurrence and potential impacts of these compounds. This review is divided into the following sections: Introduction, Analytical Methods, Fate and Occurrence, Pharmaceutical Metabolites, Anthelmintics, Microplastics, and Engineered Nanomaterials. PRACTITIONER POINTS: New research describes innovative new techniques for emerging contaminant detection in agricultural settings. Newer classes of contaminants include human and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Research in microplastics and nanomaterials shows that these also occur in agricultural environments and will likely be topics of future work.

Biomonitoring of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in a freshwater invertebrate to estimate toxic or effect pressure

Multiple classes of environmental contaminants have been found in aquatic environments, globally. Understanding internalised concentrations in the organism could further improve the risk assessment process. The present study is concerned with the determination of several contaminant classes (107 compounds) in Gammarus pulex collected from 15 sites covering 5 river catchments across Suffolk, UK. Quantitative method performance was acceptable for 67 compounds including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs and drugs of abuse. A total of 56 compounds were detectable and ranged from Collapse

Key Words

• Environmental risk assessment
• Exposome
• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Environmental Monitoring/methods
• Fresh Water
• Humans
• Illicit Drugs/chemistry
• Illicit Drugs/toxicity
• Invertebrates/chemistry
• Pesticides/chemistry
• Pesticides/toxicity
• Toxicity Tests
• Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry

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Grants

• MR/S019669/1 Medical Research Council

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Affiliation(s)

Thomas H Miller Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
Keng Tiong Ng Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
Samuel T Bury St Olaves Grammer School, Goddington Lane, Orpington, BR6 9SH, UK
Sophie E Bury Department of Pyschology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
Nicolas R Bury School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of Suffolk, James Hehir Building, University Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0FS, UK; Suffolk Sustainability Institute, University of Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich IP4 1QJ, UK
Leon P Barron Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK

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Multi-residue analysis of 44 pharmaceutical compounds in environmental water samples by solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A solid-phase extraction combined with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 44 pharmaceuticals belonging to different therapeutic classes (i.e., antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, cardiovascular agents, hormones, neuroleptics, and anxiolytics) in water samples. The sample preparation was optimized by studying target compounds retrieval after the following processes: i) water filtration, ii) solid phase extraction using Waters Oasis HLB cartridges at various pH, and iii) several evaporation techniques. The method was then validated by the analysis of spiked estuarine waters and wastewaters before and after treatment. Analytical performances were evaluated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, detection, and quantification limits. Recoveries of the pharmaceuticals were acceptable, instrumental detection limits varied between 0.001 and 25 pg injected and method quantification limits ranged from 0.01 to 30.3 ng/L. The precision of the method, calculated as relative standard deviation, ranged from 0.3 to 49.4%. This procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of the target analytes in estuarine waters and wastewaters. Eight of these 44 pharmaceuticals were detected in estuarine water, while 26 of them were detected in wastewater effluent. As expected, the highest values of occurrence and concentration were found in wastewater influent.