Development of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry procedure for determination of endocrine disrupting compounds in fish from Mediterranean rivers

Assessing dietary bisphenol A exposure among Koreans: comprehensive database construction and analysis using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure primarily occurs through dietary intake. This study aimed to estimate the extent of dietary BPA exposure among Koreans. A thorough literature search was conducted to establish a BPA content database encompassing common foods consumed in Korea, including various food raw materials and processed food products. Dietary exposure levels were estimated by integrating the constructed BPA database with comprehensive nationwide 24 h-dietary recall datasets. The finding revealed that dietary BPA exposure was low for most Koreans, with a mean of 14.5 ng/kg bw/day, but was higher for preschool-age children (over 23 ng). Canned foods accounted for 9-36% of the total dietary exposure of the highest dietary exposure groups; while across all age groups, a considerable amount was derived from canned tuna, contribution of canned fruits and canned coffee (milk-containing) was high for preschool-age children and adults, respectively. Notably, for adults, a substantial proportion also stemmed from beer packaged in cans. While diet contributed over 80% of aggregate exposure for most age groups, preschool-age children experienced 60% exposure through diet due to additional exposure from indoor dust. Even at the high exposure scenario, aggregate BPA exposure levels remained lower than the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) set by the Korean agency (20 μg/kg bw/day). Nevertheless, most Koreans were exposed to BPA levels surpassing the strictest TDI (0.2 ng/kg bw/day) set by the European Food Safety Authority.

Optimization of a modified Captiva EMR-lipid method based on micro-matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of nine bisphenols in mussel samples

This work describes a reliable, cheap, easy and fast method for analysis of nine bisphenols in mussel samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after trimethylsilylation. The modified method consisted of miniaturized matrix solid phase dispersion (micro-MSPD) in a glass Pasteur pipette using Captiva EMR (enhanced matrix removal)-lipid as the sorbent. Good linearity was obtained in the work range (1-500 μg L-1) with a correlation coefficient (R2) ≥ 0.998. The method accuracy and precision were determined at two concentration levels. The results show recoveries ranging from 55 to 111%. The precision varied from 1.95 to 11.4% (RSD). The whole quantification limits were between 0.056 and 3.42 μg per kg dry weight. The analytical procedure was applied for the analyses of five mussel samples collected from Galician Rias. The major compound was BPA, and wild mussels from Rías de Ferrol, Vigo and A Coruña had the highest levels. The proposed method is suitable for the analysis of BPA and its analogues in mussel samples.

Bisphenol A and its analogues: from their occurrence in foodstuffs marketed in Europe to improved monitoring strategies-a review of published literature from 2018 to 2023

In this review article, the research works covering the analytical determination of bisphenol A (BPA) and its structural analogues published from 2018 to present (February 2024) were examined. The review offers an overview of the concentration levels of these xenoestrogens in food and beverages, and discusses concerns that these may possibly pose to the human health and scrutinises, from an analytical perspective, the main biomonitoring approaches that are applied. This comes as a natural evolution of a previous review that covered the same topic but in earlier years (up to 2017). As compared to the past, while the volume of published literature on this topic has not necessarily decreased, the research studies are now much more homogeneous in terms of their geographical origin, i.e., Southern Europe (mainly Italy and Spain). For this reason, an estimated daily intake of the European population could not be calculated at this time. In terms of the analytical approaches that were applied, 67% of the research groups exploited liquid chromatography (LC), with a detection that was prevalently (71%) afforded by mass spectrometry, with over one-fourth of the research teams using fluorescence (26%) and a minority (3%) detecting the analytes with diode array detection. One-third of the groups used gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry achieving comparatively superior efficiency as compared to LC. Derivatisation was performed in 59% of the GC studies to afford more symmetrical signals and enhanced sensitivity. Although the contamination levels are well below the threshold set by governments, routinely biomonitoring is encouraged because of the possible accumulation of these contaminants in the human body and of their interplay with other xenoestrogens.

Is photoelectrocatalysis an efficient process to degrade endocrine disruptors chemicals?

Endocrine disruptors chemicals (EDCs) pose significant health risks, including cancer, behavioral disorders, and infertility. In this study, we employed the photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) technique with optimized tungsten oxide (WO3) nanostructures as a photoanode to degrade three diverse EDCs: methiocarb, dimethyl phthalate, and 4-tert-butylphenol. PEC degradation tests were carried out for individual contaminants and a mixture of them, assessing efficiency across different EDC families. Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry was used to control the course of the experiments. For individual solutions, 4-tert-butylphenol and methiocarb were 100% degraded at 1 hour of PEC degradation. Among the tested EDCs, dimethyl phthalate showed the highest resistance to degradation when treated individually. However, when assessed in a mixture with the other EDCs, the degradation efficiency of dimethyl phthalate increased compared to its individual treatment. Furthermore, four degradation intermediates were identified for each contaminant. Finally, toxicity tests revealed that the initial solution was more toxic than the samples treated for all the contaminants tested, except for the phthalate.

Quantification of parabens in marine fish samples by a rapid, simple, effective sample preparation method

Parabens (p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters) commonly used preservatives (in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and foods) can pose potential effects on environmental health. In this study, seven parabens were quantified in marine fish samples using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS) system. Parabens in the fish samples were extracted and purified by a rapid, simple, and effective procedure comprising sample homogenization with solvent, solid-phase extraction clean-up, and solvent evaporation. Results demonstrated that the recoveries of seven compounds (with relative standard deviation < 15%) were 88-103% in matrix-spike samples and 86-105% in surrogate standards. The method detection limits and method quantification limits of seven parabens were 0.015-0.030 and 0.045-0.090 ng/g-ww (wet weight), respectively. The optimized method was applied to measure the concentration of parabens in the 37 marine fish samples collected from Vietnam coastal waters. The concentration ranges of seven parabens found in round scad and greater lizardfish samples were 6.82-25.3 ng/g ww and 6.21-17.2 ng/g-ww, respectively. Among parabens, methylparaben accounted for the highest contribution in both fish species (43.2 and 44.9%, respectively). Based on the measured concentrations of parabens in marine fish samples, the estimated daily intake was calculated for children and adults with the corresponding values of 0.0477 µg/kg/day and 0.0119 µg/kg/day, respectively. However, the presence of parabens in Vietnamese marine fish may not pose a significant risk to human health.

Occurrence, biomagnification, and risk assessment of parabens and their metabolites in marine fish: The case study of Vietnam

Parabens have emerged as the primary preservative of choice in numerous consumer goods, prompting growing apprehension regarding their potential for human exposure. The study employed the optimized QuEChERs sample extraction method and the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS system to generate the initial contamination profiles of seven parabens and their four metabolites in a total of 114 fish samples found along the coastline of Vietnam. The findings of the study indicated that methylparaben was the predominant substance detected, exhibiting the highest concentration in the largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) species at 32.8 ng g-1 dry weight (dw). Additionally, the metabolites with the highest detectable concentrations in the largehead hairtail were found to be 4-HB and 3,4-DHB, with levels of 8822.0 ng g-1 dw and 3490.8 ng g-1 dw, respectively. Besides, the study reveals notable variations in paraben concentrations across three distinct regions in Vietnam, namely the Central, North, and South (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The trophic magnification factors (TMF) for methylparaben, ethylparaben, ethyl protocatechuate, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid exhibited values exceeding 1, indicating substantial biomagnification of these substances within the marine food web of Vietnam. Additionally, noteworthy positive associations have been observed between methylparaben and ethylparaben, as well as their respective metabolites. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that there is no direct impact of seafood consumption on human health in Vietnam.

Multi-residue method to determine selected personal care products from five classes in fish based on miniaturized matrix solid-phase dispersion and solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method featuring matrix solid-phase dispersion combined with solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed to determine parabens, musks, antimicrobials, UV filters, and an insect repellent in fish. Optimization and validation of the method was carried out on tilapia and salmon samples. Acceptable linearity (R² > 0.97), precision (relative standard deviations < 13 %) and accuracy (recovery > 80 %) at two concentration levels for all analytes were obtained using both matrices. The limits of detection ranged from 0.01 to 1.01 μg g^-1 (wet weight) for all analytes except for methyl paraben. The SPME Arrow format was applied to increase the sensitivity of the method, and yielded detection limits more than ten times lower than those achieved with traditional SPME. The miniaturized method can be applied to various fish species, regardless of their lipid content, and represents a useful tool for quality control and food safety purposes.

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.

Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Organophosphate Flame Retardants and Their Metabolites in the Estuarine Food Web of the Pearl River, China

The accumulation and trophodynamics of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and their metabolites were investigated in the estuarine food web of the Pearl River, China. The mean ∑OPFR concentration among the investigated species increased in the following order: fish [431 ± 346 ng/g lipid weight (lw)] < snail (1310 ± 621 ng/g lw) < shrimp (1581 ± 1134 ng/g lw) < crab (1744 ± 1397 ng/g lw). The di-alkyl phosphates (DAPs) of di-(n-butyl) phosphate (DNBP), bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP), and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) were the most abundant metabolites, with concentrations same as or even higher than their corresponding parent compounds. The log bioaccumulation factors for most OPFRs were lower than 3.70, and significant biomagnification was only found for trisphenyl phosphate [TPHP, with the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) > 1]. The TMFs of OPFRs, except for TPHP and tributyl phosphate had a positive correlation with lipophilicity (log K_OW, p ≤ 0.05) and a negative correlation with the biotransformation rate (log K_M, p ≤ 0.05). The mean TMF > 1 was observed for all of the OPFR metabolites based on the bootstrap regression method. The "pseudo-biomagnification" of OPFR metabolites might be attributed to the biotransformation of OPFRs in organisms at high trophic levels.

Determination of benzothiazoles, benzotriazoles and benzenesulfonamides in seafood using quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe extraction followed by gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry: Method development and risk assessment

The common use of benzothiazoles, benzotriazoles and benzenesulfonamides has led to widespread ubiquity in several environmental matrices. Their occurrence in edible fish could represent an additional exposure route for the population. The present study aims to develop a method for the simultaneous determination of these three compound families in seafood samples. Based on QuEChERS extraction, different salt combinations and clean-up strategies have been evaluated to achieve the highest recoveries while reducing the matrix effect in low and high lipidic content species. The best results were obtained with the original method salts and the lipid-selective push-through clean-up, which combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry led to recoveries between 50 and 112% with negligible matrix effects and method detection limits between 0.15-9.50 ng g^-1 dw. The application of the method to commercially available samples confirmed the presence of BTs as well as BSAs, with the latter being determined in seafood for the first time. Exposure and risk assessment calculations indicated a minor risk for the population when consuming fish.

The burden of emerging contaminants upon an Atlantic Ocean marine protected reserve adjacent to Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

The presence and levels of fifteen chemicals of emerging concerns, including five perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), two industrial chemicals, seven pharmaceuticals and one personal care product, were evaluated in biota, seawater and sediments obtained from near-shore coastal zone in Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Eight compounds were found in seawater, and between nine to twelve compounds were quantified in marine invertebrates, sediment and seaweed. Diclofenac was the prevalent pharmaceutical with a maximum concentration of 2.86 ng/L in seawater, ≥110.9 ng/g dry weight (dw) in sediments and ≥67.47 ng/g dw in marine biotas. Among PFCs, perfluoroheptanoic acid was predominant in seawater (0.21-0.46 ng/L). Accumulation of perfluorodecanoic acid (764 ng/g dw) as well as perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid (504.52 and 597.04 ng/g dw, respectively) was highest in samples of seaweed. The environmental risk assessment carried out in this study showed that although individual pollutants pose a low acute and chronic risk, yet individual compounds each had a high bioaccumulation factor in diverse marine species, and their combination as a complex mixture in marine organisms might have adverse effects upon aquatic organisms. Data revealed that this Atlantic Ocean marine protected environment is affected by the presence of numerous and diverse emerging contaminants that could only have originated from sewage discharges. The complex mixture of persistent chemicals found bioaccumulating in marine organisms could bode ill for the propagation and survival of marine protected species, since many of these compounds are known toxicants.

Multi-residue determination of bisphenol analogues in organism tissues by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A reliable and sensitive analyzing method was developed and validated for determination of 13 novel bisphenol analogues (BPs) along with bisphenol A (BPA) in organism tissues. The complex organism tissues were treated by ultrasonic-assisted extraction using acetonitrile/formic acid (99:1, v/v), followed by successive purification using enhanced matrix removal-lipid sorbents and primary secondary amine sorbents. The BPs were finally determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after derivatization using pyridine-3-sulfonyl chloride. Satisfactory recoveries of 75 - 118% were obtained for the BPs, with good repeatability (RSD < 20%). Matrix interferences were efficiently diminished. The method quantification limits (MQLs) reached 0.003 - 0.1 ng g^-1 dry weight (dw). The validated method was successfully applied to a preliminary investigation of the BPs in wild marine organisms collected from the nearshore waters along the coast of Guangdong, China. Besides BPA, novel BPs such as bisphenol F, bisphenol AF, and tetrabromobisphenol A were also detected at < MDL - 15.5 ng g^-1 dw. This work laid a strong basis for further in-depth research on bioaccumulation of the novel BPs in the environment.

The curious case of methylparaben: Anthropogenic contaminant or natural origin?

The widespread use of methylparaben as a preservative has caused increased exposure to natural aquatic systems in recent decades. However, current studies have suggested that exposure to this compound can result in endocrine disrupting effects, raising much concern regarding its environmental impact. In contast, methylparaben has also been found to be part of the metabolome of some organisms, prompting the question as to whether this compound may be more natural than previously assumed. Through a combination of field studies investigating the natural presence of methylparaben across different taxa, and a 54-day microcosm experiment examining the bioaccumulation and movement of methylparaben across different life stages of aquatic insects (order Trichoptera), our results offer evidence suggesting the natural origin of methylparaben in aquatic and terrestrial biota. This study improves our understanding of the role and impact this compound has on biota and challenges the current paradigm that methylparaben is exclusively a harmful anthropogenic contaminant. Our findings highlight the need for further research on this topic to fully understand the origin and role of parabens in the environment which will allow for a comprehensive understanding of the extent of environmental contamination and result in a representative assessment of the environmental risk that may pose.

Simultaneous determination of pharmaceuticals and metabolites in fish tissue by QuEChERS extraction and UHPLC Q/Orbitrap MS analysis

In recent years, the occurrence, fate, and adverse effects of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aquatic organisms have become a noteworthy issue. In the present study, a rapid and sensitive multiresidue analytical method was developed for the determination of 18 parent PhACs and 5 metabolites in sea bream (Sparus aurata), by combining a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) procedure with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS). The method development involved optimization of extraction solvent, extraction salts, clean-up sorbents, and amount of sample evaluation, while identification on Orbitrap MS was based on accurate mass and further confirmation with MS/MS fragmentation. The developed method was validated, and linearity was higher than 0.99. Recoveries in all cases ranged between 62 and 107% (at 10, 50, and 100 ng g^-1), while intra-day and inter-day precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD, was lower than 4% and 7%, respectively. In addition, limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged between 0.5 and 19 ng g^-1. The compounds presented a low matrix effect, between - 13 and 4%, while the expanded uncertainty U% estimated at the three spiking levels 10, 50, and 100 ng g^-1 was found below 49% in all cases. Finally, the validated method was applied to sea bream samples from an aquaculture farm located in the Mediterranean Sea, with one positive finding for the antibiotic trimethoprim at a concentration of 26 ng g^-1, presenting negligible human health risk.

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of eighteen environmental phenols in human urine

Environmental phenols are a typical group of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and have caused growing concerns upon the potential adverse effects on humans. Urinary concentrations of phenols can be used as valid biomarkers for the assessment of human exposure. A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eighteen environmental phenols (six parabens, seven bisphenols, four benzophenones and triclosan) in human urine using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The optimized LLE was time saving and required low volumes of organic solvents. A volume of only 0.2 mL urine sample was extracted and analyzed. The method yielded good linearity (0.9925-0.9994) and satisfactory limit of detection (LOD) (≤0.08 ng mL^-1). The relative recoveries ranged between 76.7% and 116% at three spiked levels, with intra- and inter-day precision less than 8.04% and 13.5%, respectively. Our method has been proved to be simple, rapid and sensitive by a comprehensive comparison between methods. This proposed method provides a large-scale biomonitoring tool for exposure assessment of human population to environmental phenols.

Synthetic musks in surface water and fish from the rivers in India: Seasonal distribution and toxicological risk assessment

Synthetic musks (SMs), a class of organic compounds added to various personal care products (PCPs) to enhance aroma, are increasingly released into the environment and become one emerging contaminants of concern in India. Some SMs like Galaxolide, Tonalide and Musk Ketone (MK) are lipophilic and found ubiquitously in the environment, posing health and ecological risks, especially affecting aquatic organisms. Hence, monitoring the synthetic musks contamination in these rivers become environmentally inevitable. Consequently, three major rivers, the Kaveri (Cauvery), Vellar and Thamirabarani Rivers in Tamil Nadu, India, were investigated to understand the occurrence and fate of SMs. The concentration of Galaxolide, Tonalide and MK in surface water ranged as not detected (ND)-198, ND-77 and ND-62 ng/L, respectively. The levels of SMs in the Kaveri River were comparable with Vellar and Thamirabarani Rivers; however, the detection frequency was low in Thamirabarani river. Fish samples from the Kaveri river had higher concentrations of SMs (galaxolide 36-350 ng/g > MK 2-33 ng/g > Tonalide 1-9 ng/g ww (wet weight)) than in the Vellar River. Based on Hazard Quotient, SMs pose no risks to freshwater systems and the resident organisms in this study. In India, the dry season starts from March to July (35-42 °C) and wet season starts from November to February (25-35 °C). Bioconcentration factor (BCF) values for Galaxolide were found higher during the wet season and lower during the dry season, whereas it is reverse for Tonalide. Among fish Gebilion catla may be a good indicator species for SMs, despite the seasons, it accumulates more. This is the first study of SMs in surface water and fish from the rivers in India.

Prediction Models on pKa and Base-Catalyzed Hydrolysis Kinetics of Parabens: Experimental and Quantum Chemical Studies

Parabens for which the molecules contain hydrolytic and ionizable groups, are emerging pollutants due to their ubiquity in the environment. However, lack of pK_a and second-order base-catalyzed hydrolysis kinetics (k_B) values limits their environmental persistence assessment. Herein, six parabens were selected as reference compounds for which the pK_a and k_B values were measured experimentally. A semiempirical quantum chemical (QC) method was selected to calculate pK_a of the parabens, and density functional theory (DFT) methods were selected to calculate k_B for neutral and anionic forms of the parabens, by comparing the QC-calculated and determined values. Combining the QC-calculated and experimental pK_a and k_B values, quantitative structure-activity relationships with determination coefficients (R²) being 0.947 and 0.842 for the pK_a and k_B models, respectively, were developed, which were validated and could be employed to efficiently fill the k_B and pK_a data gaps of parabens within applicability domains. The base-catalyzed hydrolysis half-lives were estimated to range from 6 h to 1.52 × 10⁶ years (pH 7-9, 25 °C), further necessitating the in silico models due to the tedious and onerous experimental determination, and the huge number of hydrolyzable and ionizable chemicals that may be released into the environment.

Occurrence of Free-Form and Conjugated Bisphenol Analogues in Marine Organisms

Upon exposure, most bisphenol analogues (BPs) are rapidly metabolized to BP conjugates in organisms. Monitoring studies on BPs in aquatic organisms have been mainly focused on free-form BPs. However, the relative amount of conjugated BPs in organisms is still not well known, especially in marine organisms. In this study, we collected marine organisms (13 species; n = 74), as well as seawater (n = 15), from East China Sea, and analyzed them for bisphenol A (BPA) and its eight analogues. In seawater, BPA was the predominant BP (mean ± standard deviation (SD), 18 ± 9.7 ng/L), followed by bisphenol S (BPS; 3.7 ± 2.8 ng/L), bisphenol F (BPF; 0.31 ± 0.17 ng/L), and bisphenol AF (BPAF; 0.24 ± 0.15 ng/L). The whole body of each marine organism was used for BP analysis in this study. BPA (mean 3.8 ng/g, range 1.2-7.7 ng/g) and BPS (1.5 ng/g, 0.19-6.1 ng/g) were still the predominant BPs in marine organisms without hydrolysis. After enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, mean concentrations of BPs increased 1.8 (BPS)-3.7 (BPA) times in marine organisms. Correspondingly, on average, 74, 52, 49, 48, and 45% of BPA, bisphenol Z, BPF, BPS, and BPAF were present in conjugated forms, respectively, in marine organisms. Moreover, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of BPs were evaluated using pooled marine organism samples. We first found that the mean log BAF values of BPs increased 0.091 (BPAF) to 0.31 (BPA) times in marine organisms after hydrolysis. Overall, this study first determines the amount of BPs present in conjugated forms in marine organisms, which are helpful for better understanding the occurrence of BPs in organisms.

Bisphenol A in Africa: A review of environmental and biological levels

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic ubiquitous environmental toxicant present in many industrial and consumer products. BPA is recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and its mechanisms of perturbation of the physiological process include interference with hormone pathways and epigenetic modifications. An increase in industrial productions and food packaging across Africa has resulted in increased utilization of BPA-containing products with a concomitant increase in environmental bioaccumulation and human exposure. In order to assess the extent of this bioaccumulation, we identified, collated, and summarized the levels of BPA that have been reported across Africa. To achieve this aim, we performed a systematic search of four indexing databases to identify articles and extracted the necessary data from the selected articles. Of the 42 publications we retrieved, 42% were on water samples, 22% on food, 20% on human biological fluids, 10% on sediments, soils, and sludge and 6% on consumer and personal care products (PCPs). The highest level of BPA reported in literature across Africa was 251 ng/mL, 384.8 ng/mL, 937.49 ng/g, 208.55 ng/mL, 3,590 μg/g, and 154,820 μg/g for water, wastewater, food, biological fluids, consumer and PCPs, and semisolids, respectively. This review presented a comparative perspective of these levels relative to regulatory limits and levels reported from other continents. Finally, this review highlighted critical needs for the regulation of BPA across Africa in order to stem its environmental and toxicological impact. We hope that this review will stimulate further research in understanding the impact of BPA on health outcomes and wellbeing across Africa.

Aquatic Insects Transfer Pharmaceuticals and Endocrine Disruptors from Aquatic to Terrestrial Ecosystems

A wide range of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds enter freshwaters globally. As these contaminants are transported through aquatic food webs, understanding their impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a major challenge. Here, we provide the first direct evidence of the transfer of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors through the aquatic-terrestrial habitat linkage by emerging aquatic insects. We also show that the type of insect metamorphosis and feeding behavior determine the bioaccumulation patterns of these contaminants. Adult Trichoptera, an important food source for riparian predators, showed an increased body burden of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors. This implies that terrestrial predators, such as spiders, birds, and bats, are exposed to mixtures of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors of aquatic origin, which may impact their physiology and population dynamics. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the bioaccumulation patterns and trophic cross-ecosystem transfer of these contaminants, from aquatic primary producers to terrestrial predators.

Paraben Compounds—Part I: An Overview of Their Characteristics, Detection, and Impacts

Parabens are widely used in different industries as preservatives and antimicrobial compounds. The evolution of analytical techniques allowed the detection of these compounds in different sources at µg/L and ng/L. Until today, parabens were already found in water sources, air, soil and even in human tissues. The impact of parabens in humans, animals and in ecosystems are a matter of discussion within the scientific community, but it is proven that parabens can act as endocrine disruptors, and some reports suggest that they are carcinogenic compounds. The presence of parabens in ecosystems is mainly related to wastewater discharges. This work gives an overview about the paraben problem, starting with their characteristics and applications. Moreover, the dangers related to their usage were addressed through the evaluation of toxicological studies over different species as well as of humans. Considering this, paraben detection in different water sources, wastewater treatment plants, humans and animals was analyzed based on literature results. A review of European legislation regarding parabens was also performed, presenting some considerations for the use of parabens.

Presence of Parabens and Bisphenols in Food Commonly Consumed in Spain

Given the widespread use of bisphenols and parabens in consumer products, the assessment of their intake is crucial and represents the first step towards the assessment of the potential risks that these compounds may pose to human health. In the present study, a total of 98 samples of food items commonly consumed by the Spanish population were collected from different national supermarkets and grocery stores for the determination of parabens and bisphenols. Our analysis demonstrated that 56 of the 98 food samples contained detectable levels of parabens with limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.4 and 0.9 ng g-1. The total concentration of parabens (sum of four parabens: ∑parabens) ranged from below the LOQ to 281.7 ng g-1, with a mean value of 73.86 ng g-1. A total of 52% of the samples showed detectable concentrations of bisphenols. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the most frequently detected bisphenol in the food samples analysed, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol E (BPE). Bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol P (BPP) were not found in any of the analysed samples. LOQ for these bisphenols were between 0.4 and 4.0 ng g-1.

Preparation of bovine serum albumin restricted access octadecyl/phenyl-mixed-functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles for magnetic solid phase extraction of antidepressants in aquatic products followed by UHPLC-MS/MS

Pharmaceuticals are widespread in aquatic ecosystem, which may pose a potential threat to fish and human. In the study, a robust and reliable magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) restricted access octadecyl/phenyl-mixed-functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles (BSA-C18/Ph-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ NPs) as sorbent was developed for the extraction of venlafaxine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, sertraline and diphenhydramine from the muscle extracts of aquatic products followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) detection. The homemade sorbent showed appropriate compatibility in aqueous solution and good performance in reducing matrix interference of snakehead muscle tissue extracts with absolute matrix effect ranging in 95.4%-105.5%. The protocol was validated in analyte-free snakehead muscle with favorable recoveries ranging in 91.6%-103.6% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 9.5%. Limits of detection (LODs) of the drugs were lower than 0.018 μg kg^-1. Short-term drug-exposure experiments at low and high doses were conducted on snakeheads, and the measured contents of analytes were in the range 0.029-9.58 μg kg^-1 with appropriate recoveries (90.0%-114.0%). The approach was extensively applied for the analysis of twelve species of market-sale aquatic products (total 37 samples), and up to 1.868 and 0.521 μg kg^-1 of diphenhydramine and venlafaxine were measured, respectively. The approach shows remarkable potential in biological complex samples.

Occurrence and Safety Evaluation of Antimicrobial Compounds Triclosan and Triclocarban in Water and Fishes of the Multitrophic Niche of River Torsa, India

Personal care product (PCP) chemicals have a greater chance of accumulation in the aquatic environments because of their volume of use. PCPs are biologically active substances that can exert an adverse effect on the ecology and food safety. Information on the status of these substances in Indian open water ecosystems is scarce. In this paper, we report the incidence of two synthetic antimicrobials, triclosan (TCS), including its metabolite methyl-triclosan (Me-TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) in Torsa, a transboundary river flowing through India. In water TCS and TCC were detected at levels exceeding their respective PNEC (Predictive No Effect Concentration). Both the compounds were found to be bioaccumulative in fish. TCS concentration (91.1-589 µg/kg) in fish was higher than that of TCC (29.1-285.5 µg/kg). The accumulation of residues of the biocides varied widely among fishes of different species, ecological niche, and feeding habits. Me-TCS could be detected in fishes and not in water. The environmental hazard quotient of both TCS and TCC in water indicated a moderate risk. However, the health risk analysis revealed that fishes of the river would not pose any direct hazard to human when consumed. This is the first report of the occurrence of these PCP chemicals in a torrential river system of the eastern Himalayan region.

Biochemical responses of a freshwater fish Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)

Freshwater fish Cirrhinus mrigala were exposed to tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) with three different concentrations (0.04, 0.2, and 1 mg/L) for a period of 21 days. During the study period, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in gills, liver, and kidney tissues, whereas glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (except liver tissue) activities were inhibited when compared to the control group. Likewise, exposure to TCEP significantly (p < 0.05) altered the biochemical (glucose and protein) and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, and chloride) levels of fish. Light microscopic studies exhibited series of histopathological anomalies in the gills, liver, and kidney tissues. The present study reveals that TCEP at tested concentrations causes adverse effects on fish and the studied biomarkers could be used for monitoring the ecotoxicity of organophosphate esters (OPEs).

A novel hybrid micro extraction for the sensitive determination of 17β-estradiol in water samples

A novel and green hybrid of pipette tip micro solid-phase extraction (PT-μSPE) and supported liquid extraction (SLE) was tailored and established for efficient and sensitive determination of 17β-estradiol (E2) in water samples. The hybrid design used chitin as a solid phase in PT-μSPE and applies the SLE principle on it for micro extraction. The analytical setup was termed as chitin-supported pipette tip-micro liquid extraction (CPT-μLE). E2 is a highly active environmental endocrine disruptor, widely spread in the water environment, and thus it is relevant to develop a novel and noble method for its monitoring at trace concentrations in water. The detection and quantification of E2 were performed via HPLC-UV. Under the optimal conditions, E2 showed excellent linearity in the lower scale range of 0.02-20 ng mL-1, and the correlation coefficient (R2) value was 0.9958. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.01 ng mL-1 and 0.008 ng mL-1, respectively, with inter-day and intra-day precision in the range of 3.2-5.1% and 3.6-4.8%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the sensitive determination of E2 in real water samples. Overall, the method is simple, rapid, technically innovative, cost-effective, highly sensitive, environment friendly, and highly efficient. Furthermore, this method should allow easy expansion to pharmaceutical and biological samples. Finally, this novel hybrid analytical approach proposes a new direction in sample pre-treatment advancements and should act as a reference for other noble analytical advancements in the trace analysis of various emerging contaminants in environmental and biological matrices.

Streamlined MRM method transfer between instruments assisted with HRMS matching and retention-time prediction

Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (e.g., LC-QqQ-MS/MS) has been extensively employed in the small molecule analysis with trace levels in complex samples owing to its high sensitivity. However, most of the reported MRM methods are developed using authentic standards, which are often costly yet not readily available. To address this question, a practical platform for the MRM method transfer between different LC-QqQ-MS/MS instruments, assisted by the high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and retention time (RT) prediction, has been developed in this study. The reported platform can take advantage of both the high sensitivity of LC-MRM method and ion transition pairs from the previous publications. LC-HRMS can provide the accurate mass measurement of the compounds, though high-quality MS/MS fragments are usually difficult to obtain for chemicals at trace levels. Retention time matching and peaks matching between both instrumental platforms rule out isobaric candidates. With an additional retention time prediction filter from quantitative structure retention relationship (QSRR) model based on random forest feature selection (Pearson r² = 0.63), identification of small molecules is achieved at a high confidence level without using authentic standards. The developed platform has been validated with robustness by examining spiked environmental chemicals in sludge water samples, biological urine, and cell extracts.

A multi-residue method for GC-MS determination of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in fish and seafood from European and North African markets

An integrated study was conducted to determine the presence of six types of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, triclosan, two alkylphenols, two phenylphenols, eleven organophosphorus pesticides and seven parabens) in the fish and seafood samples from Europe and North Africa. The proposed method involves ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by continuous solid-phase extraction prior to GC-MS analysis. Analytical quality parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity and selectivity were all good. Limits of detections ranged from 0.5 to 20.0 ng/kg. The relative standard deviation was lower than 7.5% and recoveries ranged from 84 to 105%. The method was successfully used to determine the target analytes in 20 fish and seafood samples from different fish shops and supermarkets in Europe and North Africa. Analyte contents spanned the range 4.6-730 ng/kg and were all below the maximum legally allowed limits. EDCs most frequently found in the samples analysed were dichlorvos, 2-phenylphenol and nonylphenol.

Occurrences, levels and risk assessment studies of emerging pollutants (pharmaceuticals, perfluoroalkyl and endocrine disrupting compounds) in fish samples from Kalk Bay harbour, South Africa

A comprehensive analysis of 15 target chemical compounds (pharmaceuticals and personal care product, perfluoroalkyl compounds and industrial chemicals) were carried out to determine their concentrations in selected commercially exploited, wild caught small and medium sized pelagic fish species and their organs (Thyrsites atun (snoek), Sarda orientalis (bonito), Pachymetopon blochii (panga) and Pterogymnus laniarius (hottentot)) obtained from Kalk Bay harbour, Cape Town. Solid phase extraction (SPE) method based on Oasis HLB cartridges were used to concentrate and clean-up the samples. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of these chemical compounds revealed the simultaneous presence of at least 12 compounds in different parts of the selected fish species in nanogram-per-gram dry weight (ng/g dw) concentrations. The results revealed that perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluoroheptanoic acid were the most predominant among the perfluorinated compounds and ranged between: (20.13-179.2 ng/g), (21.22-114.0 ng/g) and (40.06-138.3 ng/g). Also, diclofenac had the highest concentration in these edible fish species out of all the pharmaceuticals detected (range: 551.8-1812 ng/g). The risk assessment values were above 0.5 and 1.0 for acute and chronic risk respectively which shows that these chemicals have a high health risk to the pelagic fish, aquatic organisms and to humans who consume them. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a precautionary approach and the adequate regulation of the use and disposal of synthetic chemicals that persist in aquatic/marine environment in this province and other parts of South Africa, to prevent impacts on the sustainability of our marine environment, livelihood and lives.

Development and validation of an analytical method for the determination of 17β-estradiol residues in muscle of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818) by LC-MS/MS and its application in samples from a fish sexual reversion study

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818) is the main native fish species farmed in Brazil, and 17β-estradiol (E₂) is a natural steroid hormone commonly used for the production of female fish monosex population, which, in tambaqui, shows a higher growth rate than the male. Thus, to assess whether the fish meat of treated tambaqui contains hormonal residue levels, a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of E₂ residues in fish muscle was developed and validated. A QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) dispersive solid phase extraction method was used for the sample preparation. The chromatographic separation was performed in a Poroshel EC-18 reverse phase column. The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile with 0.01% ammonium hydroxide (A) and water with 0.01% ammonium hydroxide (B). The ratio of A:B phases was 60:40 (v/v) used in an isocratic mode. The method validation was performed according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and Veterinary International Conference Harmonization (VICH GL49). Since matrix effects were observed, matrix-matched analytical curves are recommended for quantitation. The linearity, selectivity, intraday and interday precision, accuracy, decision limit, detection capability, and detection and quantitation limits of the method are reported. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.3 ng/g and 1.0 ng/g, respectively. At these limits and slaughtering fish 7 months after the end of the treatment, the muscle of tambaqui did not show detectable hormone residue level. Thus, consumption of tambaqui edible tissue from fish treated with E₂ for the purpose of sexual reversion is unlikely to represent a risk associated with the exposure of human subjects as residue levels of this hormone are not detected in the fish muscle.

Occurrence and level of emerging organic contaminant in fish and mollusk from Klang River estuary, Malaysia and assessment on human health risk

The occurrence, level, and distribution of multiclass emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in fish and mollusks from the Klang River estuary were examined. The targeted EOCs for this assessment were phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (bisphenol A, 4-OP, and 4-NP), organophosphorous pesticides (quinalphos, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon), estrogenic hormones (E2, E1, and EE2), and pharmaceutically active chemicals (primidone, sulfamethoxazole, dexamethasone, diclofenac, amoxicillin, progesterone, and testosterone). Results from this study showed that the prevalent contamination of the Klang River estuary by EOCs with diclofenac, bisphenol A, progesterone, and amoxicillin were predominantly detected in fish and mollusks. Among the EOCs, diclofenac and progesterone had the highest concentrations in fish and mollusk samples, respectively. The concentrations of diclofenac and progesterone in fish and mollusk samples range from 1.42 ng/g to 10.76 ng/g and from 0.73 ng/g to 9.57 ng/g, respectively. Bisphenol A should also be highlighted because of its significant presence in both fish and mollusks. The concentration of bisphenol A in both matrices range from 0.92 ng/g to 5.79 ng/g. The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for diclofenac, bisphenol A, and progesterone without consideration to their degradation byproduct were less than one, thus suggesting that the consumption of fish and mollusks from the Klang River estuary will unlikely pose any health risk to consumers on the basis of the current assessment. Nonetheless, this preliminary result is an important finding for pollution studies in Malaysian tropical coastal ecosystems, particularly for organic micropollutant EOCs, and can serve as a baseline database for future reference.

Contaminants of emerging concern in freshwater fish from four Spanish Rivers

This study investigated the occurrence of 135 contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) - pharmaceuticals, pesticides, a set of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (parabens, bisphenols, hormones, triazoles, organophosphorus flame retardants and triclosan), UV-filters, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) - in 59 fish samples, collected in 2010 in 4 Spanish Rivers (Guadalquivir, Júcar, Ebro and Llobregat). Of the 135 CECs, 76 including 8 pharmaceuticals, 25 pesticides, 10 EDCs, 5 UV-filters, 15 PFASs and 13 HFRs were detected. Pharmaceuticals were the less frequently found and at lower concentrations. Pesticides, EDCs, UV-filters, PFASs and HFRs were detected more frequently (>50% of the samples). The maximum concentrations were 15 ng/g dry weight (dw) for pharmaceuticals (diclofenac), 840 ng/g dw for pesticides (chlorpyrifos), 224 ng/g dw for EDCs (bisphenol A), 242 ng/g dw for UV-filters (EHMC), 1738 ng/g dw for PFASs (PFHxA) and 64 ng/g dw for HFRs (Dec 602). The contaminants detected in fish are commonly detected also in sediments. In light of current knowledge, the risk assessment revealed that there was no risk for humans related to the exposure to CECs via freshwater fish consumption. However, results provide detailed information on the mixtures of CECs accumulated that would be very useful to identify their effects on aquatic biota.

Detection and analysis of 17 steroid hormones by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) in different sex and maturity stages of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

A sensitive and accurate method for determination of 17 endogenous and exogenous steroid hormones in Antarctic krill was developed. The method utilized UHPLC-MS in electrospray ionization mode (ESI). Samples were prepared by alkaline hydrolysis; sequential vortex extraction with ethyl acetate, methanol and acetonitrile; followed by a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) clean-up method. The system suitability tests including theoretical plate number, resolution, repeatability, tailing factor proved the system’s resolution and reproducibility that can meet the requirements of sample analysis. The developed method resulted in satisfactory recoveries that varied from 75.4%-110.6% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) that ranged from 3.1%-10.5%. The ranges of the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 2–30 ng kg^-1 and 10–100 ng kg^-1, respectively. 14 hormones including cortisone, aldosterone, testosterone propionate, estriol, megestrol acetate, cortisone acetate, dexamethasone, testosterone, hydroxyprogesterone, nandrolone, prednisolone, cortisol, progesterone and estradiol were found in Antarctic krill. Other 3 hormones (Diethylstilbestrol, norethisterone and androsterone) were not detected. The levels of exogenous steroid hormones were much greater than those of endogenous steroid hormones, and the levels of exogenous glucocorticoids were much greater than those of exogenous sex hormones. The changes of hormones in different sex and maturity stages were also explored. Endogenous hormones might regulate the reproductive and development of Antarctic krill. The detected exogenous hormones suggests the potential for hormonal contamination in Antarctic waters that can affect organisms even affect human beings by food chain.

Evaluation of parabens and their metabolites in fish and fish products: a comprehensive analytical approach using LC-HRMS

Parabens (PBs) are preservatives frequently used in cosmetics and personal care products as well as in the pharmaceutical and food industries due to their extensive defence mechanisms against multiple categories of microorganisms. Although they are considered safe when used within defined concentration limits, concern about their potential toxicity is still particularly active. Revealed as emerging pollutants, their incidence and behaviour in the aquatic environment have been studied, but there is only sporadic information when it comes to their extent and distribution in seafood. This study explores the presence of methyl- (MeP), ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and benzylparaben and their main degradation product 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) in several fish species and bivalve samples with the aim to evaluate these food matrices as potentially important contamination sources of PB. Additionally, infant food containing fish was also enrolled in this survey: firstly, due to the absence of any information regarding this exceptionally important food item, and secondly, because of the necessity to estimate the PB content in the processed food. For this purpose, a fast, reliable and robust method was developed based on a simple liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance LC, coupled with a benchtop Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution MS. The Q-Exactive parameters were carefully scheduled to achieve a balance between the optimal scan speed and selectivity, considering the limitations that are associated with generic sample preparation methodology. The method was validated through specificity, linearity, recovery, intra- and inter-day repeatability, LOD and LOQ. LOD and LOQ reached the ranges 0.65-3.5 and 2.15-11.7 ng g^-1, respectively, while overall recovery ranged from 77% to 118%. The PBs were more frequently present in bivalves than in fish samples with MeP as the main PB detected. No PBs were found in infant food, but pHBA was observed in all samples.

Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in raw and cooked seafood from European market: Concentrations and human exposure levels

Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals of emerging concern that can accumulate in seafood sold in markets. These compounds may represent a risk to consumers through effects on the human reproductive system, metabolic disorders, pathogenesis of breast cancer or development of microbial resistance. Measuring their levels in highly consumed seafood is important to assess the potential risks to human health. Besides, the effect of cooking on contaminant levels is relevant to investigate. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to study the presence and levels of PhACs and EDCs in commercially available seafood in the European Union market, to investigate the effect of cooking on contaminant levels, and to evaluate the dietary exposure of humans to these compounds through seafood consumption. A sampling survey of seafood from 11 European countries was undertaken. Twelve highly consumed seafood types were analysed raw and cooked with 3 analytical methods (65 samples, 195 analysis). PhACs were mostly not detectable or below quantification limits in seafood whereas EDCs were a recurrent group of contaminants quantified in the majority of the samples. Besides, cooking by steaming significantly increased their levels in seafood from 2 to 46-fold increase. Based on occurrence and levels, bisphenol A, methylparaben and triclosan were selected for performing a human exposure assessment and health risk characterisation through seafood consumption. The results indicate that the Spanish population has the highest exposure to the selected EDCs through seafood consumption, although the exposure via seafood remained below the current toxicological reference values.

Antidepressants in a changing ocean: Venlafaxine uptake and elimination in juvenile fish (Argyrosomus regius) exposed to warming and acidification conditions

The presence of antidepressants, such as venlafaxine (VFX), in marine ecosystems is increasing, thus, potentially posing ecological and human health risks. The inherent mechanisms of VFX uptake and elimination still require further understanding, particularly accounting for the impact of climate change-related stressors, such as warming and acidification. Hence, the present work aimed to investigate, for the first time, the effects of increased seawater temperature (ΔT°C = +5 °C) and pCO₂ levels (ΔpCO₂ ∼1000 μatm, equivalent to ΔpH = -0.4 units) on the uptake and elimination of VFX in biological tissues (muscle, liver, brain) and plasma of juvenile meagre (Argyrosomus regius) exposed to VFX through two different exposure pathways (via water, i.e. [VFX ] ∼20 μg L^-1, and via feed, i.e. [VFX] ∼160 μg kg^-1 dry weight, dw). Overall, results showed that VFX can be uptaken by fish through both water and diet. Fish liver exhibited the highest VFX concentration (126.7 ± 86.5 μg kg^-1 and 6786.4 ± 1176.7 μg kg^-1 via feed and water exposures, respectively), as well as the highest tissue:plasma concentration ratio, followed in this order by brain and muscle, regardless of exposure route. Both warming and acidification decreased VFX uptake in liver, although VFX uptake in brain was favoured under warming conditions. Conversely, VFX elimination in liver was impaired by both stressors, particularly when acting simultaneously. The distinct patterns of VFX uptake and elimination observed in the different scenarios calls for a better understanding of the effects of exposure route and abiotic conditions on emerging contaminants' toxicokinetics.

Differential behavioural responses to venlafaxine exposure route, warming and acidification in juvenile fish (Argyrosomus regius)

Antidepressants, such as venlafaxine (VFX), which are considered emerging environmental pollutants, are increasingly more present in the marine environment, and recent evidence suggest that they might have adverse effects on fish behaviour. Furthermore, altered environmental conditions associated to climate change (e.g. warming and acidification) can also have a determinant role on fish behaviour, fitness and survival. Yet, the underlying interactions between these environmental stressors (pharmaceuticals exposure and climate change) are still far from being fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess behavioural responses (in juvenile meagre (Argyrosomus regius) exposed to VFX via water ([VFX] ~20μgL^-1) and via dietary sources ([VFX] ~160μgkg^-1 dry weight), as well as to increased temperature (ΔT°C=+5°C) and high CO₂ levels (ΔpCO₂ ~1000μatm; equivalent to ΔpH=-0.4units). Overall, VFX bioaccumulation in fish plasma was enhanced under the combination of warming and acidification. VFX triggered fish exploration, whereas fish activity and shoal cohesion were reduced. Acidification alone decreased fish exploration and shoal cohesion, and reversed fish preference to turn leftwards compared to control conditions. Such alterations were further enhanced by VFX exposure. The combination of warming and acidification also reduced shoal cohesion and loss of lateralization, regardless of VFX exposure. The distinct behaviour observed when VFX contamination, acidification and warming acted alone or in combination highlighted the need to consider the likely interactive effects of seawater warming and acidification in future research regarding the toxicological aspects of chemical contaminants.

Temporal Trends of Parabens and Their Metabolites in Mollusks from the Chinese Bohai Sea during 2006-2015: Species-Specific Accumulation and Implications for Human Exposure

Parabens are used as preservatives in many consumer products, and human exposure to these chemicals has been a public concern. In this study, mollusks ( n = 186), collected from the Chinese Bohai Sea during 2006-2015, were analyzed for six parabens and their five metabolites. The total concentration of parabens was in the range of 2.66-299 ng/g dw (geometric mean: 24.1). Methyl paraben and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were the predominant parent and metabolic parabens, respectively found in mollusks. Mollusk species, Mactra veneriformis, Mytilus edulis, and Cyclina sinensis contained elevated concentrations of both parent and metabolic parabens. A gradual increase in paraben concentrations was found in mollusks collected between 2006 and 2012. Principal component analysis suggested the existence of a common source for these chemicals in mollusks. Consumption of mollusks can contribute to human exposures and we estimated daily intakes of parabens through the consumption of mollusks. This is the first study to report temporal trends and accumulation of parabens and their metabolites in a variety of invertebrate species from coastal marine environments.

Analytical approaches for the determination of personal care products and evaluation of their occurrence in marine organisms

Contamination of the aquatic environment caused by multiple human activities may exert a negative impact on all living organisms. Several contaminants of emerging concern such as personal care products (PCPs) are continuously released into the aquatic environment where they are biologically active and persistent. This work reviews the current knowledge, provided by papers published after 2010 and indexed by SciFinder, Scopus, and Google search engines, about the determination and occurrence of PCPs in marine biota. Analytical methodologies have been critically reviewed, emphasizing the importance of green and high-throughput approaches and focusing the discussion on the complexity of the solute-matrix interaction in the extraction step, as well as the matrix effect in the instrumental determination. Finally, the worldwide distribution of PCPs is surveyed, taking into account the concentrations found in the same organism in different marine environments. Differences among various world areas have been highlighted, evidencing some critical aspects from an environmental point of view.

Effects of water warming and acidification on bioconcentration, metabolization and depuration of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Warming and acidification are expected impacts of climate change to the marine environment. Besides, organisms that live in coastal areas, such as bivalves, can also be exposed to anthropogenic pollutants like pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). In this study, the effects of warming and acidification on the bioconcentration, metabolization and depuration of five PhACs (sotalol, sulfamethoxazole, venlafaxine, carbamazepine and citalopram) and two EDCs (methylparaben and triclosan) were investigated in the mussel species (Mytilus galloprovincialis), under controlled conditions. Mussels were exposed to warming and acidification, as well as to the mixture of contaminants up to 15.7 μg L^-1 during 20 days; followed by 20 days of depuration. All contaminants bioconcentrated in mussels with levels ranging from 1.8 μg kg^-1 dry weight (dw) for methylparaben to 12889.4 μg kg^-1 dw for citalopram. Warming increased the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of sulfamethoxazole and sotalol, whereas acidification increased the BCF of sulfamethoxazole, sotalol and methylparaben. In contrast, acidification decreased triclosan levels, while both stressors decreased venlafaxine and citalopram BCFs. Warming and acidification facilitated the elimination of some of the tested compounds (i.e. sotalol from 50% in control to 60% and 68% of elimination in acidification and warming respectively). However, acidification decreased mussels' capacity to metabolize contaminants (i.e. venlafaxine). This work provides a first insight in the understanding of aquatic organisms' response to emerging contaminants pollution under warming and acidification scenarios.