Simultaneous analysis of free and conjugated estrogens, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines in runoff water and soils using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The effects of modifiers on electrospray ionization for small-to-medium-sized molecules in comparison with solution-phase ionization

Modifiers are essential additives in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric analysis to enhance the production of ionic species in the gas phase for the detection of small-to-medium-sized molecules in biological and aqueous samples. Therefore, an appropriate modifier, in conjunction with the right ionization polarity, is crucial for sensitive ESI mass spectrometric analysis. However, the charge carried by basic and acidic functional groups in solution is neither quantitatively nor qualitatively reflected in the MS spectrum. For example, adding an acidic modifier will cause sufficient protonation of a basic functional group in solution; however, this may result in inferior positive ESI compared to using a basic modifier. Another example is when the MS spectrum does not reflect the charge distribution of multiply charged molecules in solution. Therefore, this review will summarize and discuss the proposed mechanisms by which modifiers induce and influence ESI. It will also cover molecular characteristics that affect ESI, such as charge state and polarity, which result in a difference between solution-phase ionization and ESI.

Combined collection systems of sewage and rainfall runoff seriously affect the spatial distributions of natural estrogens and their conjugates in river water: Insights from the Pearl River of China

So far, little has been known about how the combined collection systems of sewage and rainfall runoff (CCSs) affect emerging contaminants in river water. To fill up the knowledge gap, this study was conducted to investigate the spatial distributions of three natural estrogens (NEs, i.e., estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3)) and their conjugates (C-NEs) in the Pearl River in the wet and dry seasons. Results showed that the respective average concentrations of NEs and C-NEs at different locations alongside the Pearl River in the wet season were 7.3 and 1.8 times those in the dry season. Based on estrogen equivalence (EEQ), the average estimated EEQ level in the Pearl River waters in the wet season was nearly 10 times that in the dry season. These seemed to imply that the CCSs in the wet season not only cause untreated sewage into the receiving water body, but greatly decrease the removal efficiency of NEs and C-NEs in wastewater treatment plant. Furthermore, the estimated annual loads of E1, E2, and E3 to the Pearl River in the wet season accounted for about 88.6 %, 100 %, and 99.3 % of the total annual loads. Consequently, this work for the first time demonstrated that the CCSs in cities with high precipitation are unfavorable for controlling of emerging contaminants.

Removal, transformation and ecological risk assessment of pesticide in rural wastewater by field-scale horizontal flow constructed wetlands of treated effluent

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used in sewage treatment in rural areas, but there are only a few studies on field-scale CWs in treating wastewater-borne pesticides. In this study, the treatment and metabolic transformation of 29 pesticides in rural domestic sewage by 10 field-scale horizontal flow CWs (HF-CWs), each with a treatment scale of 36‒5000 m3/d and operated for 2‒10 years, in Guangzhou, Southern China was investigated. The risk of pesticides in treated effluent and main factors influencing such risk were evaluated. Results demonstrated that HF-CWs could remove pesticides in sewage and reduce their ecological risk in effluent, but the degree varied among types of pesticides. Herbicides had the highest mean removal rate (67.35 %) followed by insecticides (60.13 %), and the least was fungicides (53.22 %). In terms of single pesticide compounds, the mean removal rate of butachlor was the highest (73.32 %), then acetochlor (69.41 %), atrazine (68.28 %), metolachlor (58.40 %), and oxadixyl (53.28 %). The overall removal rates of targeted pesticides in each HF-CWs ranged from 11 %‒57 %, excluding two HF-CWs showing increases in pesticides in treated effluent. Residues of malathion, phorate, and endosulfan in effluent had high-risks (RQ > 5). The pesticide concentration in effluent was mainly affected by that in influent (P = 0.042), and source control was the key to reducing risk. The main metabolic pathways of pesticide in HF-CWs were oxidation, with hydroxyl group to carbonyl group or to form sulfones, the second pathways by hydrolysis, aerobic condition was conducive to the transformation of pesticides. Sulfones were generally more toxic than the metabolites produced by hydrolytic pathways. The present study provides a reference on pesticides for the purification performance improvement, long-term maintenance, and practical sustainable application of field-scale HF-CWs.

Unveiling the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in northern French soils: Land cover variability and implications

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that can be found in the environment and have adverse effects on human health by mimicking, perturbing and blocking the function of hormones. They are commonly studied in water surfaces, rarely in soils, although it can be an important source of their presence in the environment. Their detection in soils is analytically challenging to quantify, hence the lack of known background concentrations found in the literature. This scientific research aimed to detect EDCs in soils by analyzing 240 soil samples using an optimized protocol of double extraction and analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The optimized protocol allowed for very sensitive detection of the targeted compounds. The results showed a high concentration of 29.391 ng/g of 17β-estradiol in soils and 47.16 ng/g for 17α-ethinylestradiol. Testosterone and Progesterone were detected at a highest of 1.02 and 6.58 ng/g, respectively. The ∑EDCs which included estrogens, progesterone, testosterone and Bisphenol A was found at an average of 22.72 ± 35.46 ng/g in the study area. The results of this campaign showed a heterogeneous geographic distribution of the EDCs compounds in the different zones of study. Additionally, the study conducted a comparison of the concentration of EDCs in different land covers including urban areas, agricultural lands, grasslands and forests. We observed a significant difference between forests and other land covers (p < 0.0001) for 17α-ethinylestradiol, estriol, and progesterone. This presence of EDCs in forest lands is not yet understood and requires further studies concerning its origins, its fate and its effect on human health. This study is the first large-scale sampling campaign targeting EDCs in soils in Europe and the second in the world. It is also the first to assess the concentrations of these compounds based on different land covers.

Combining environmental, health, and safety features with a conductor like Screening Model for selecting green solvents for antibiotic analyses

Extraction and chromatographic techniques for analyzing pharmaceutically active compounds necessitate large quantities of organic solvents, resulting in a high volume of hazardous waste. The concept of green solvents focuses on protecting the environment by reducing or even eliminating the use of toxic solvents. The main objective of this critical review article is to build a framework for choosing green solvents for antibiotic analyses. The article briefly discusses the chemical properties of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim, and the current state of methodologies for their analyses in water and wastewater. It evaluates the greenness of solvents used for antibiotic analyses and includes insights on the comparison between conventional and green solvents for the analyses. An economic and environmental health and safety analysis combined with a Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvent (COSMO-RS) molecular simulation technique for predicting extraction efficiency was used in the evaluation. Methyl acetate and propylene carbonate tied for the greenest solvents from an environmental and economic perspective, whereas the COSMO-RS approach suggests dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the most suitable candidate. Although DMSO ranked third environmentally and economically, after methyl acetate and propylene carbonate, it would be an ideal replacement of hazardous solvents if it could be manufactured at a lower cost. DMSO showed the highest extraction capacity, as it can interact with antibiotics through hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. This article can be used as a green solvent selection guide for developing sustainable processes for antibiotic analyses.

Simultaneous trace determination of three natural estrogens and their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates in municipal waste and river water samples with UPLC-MS/MS

Analytical method for three natural estrogens (NEs) and their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates in waste and river waters using solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) has been available, but problems including poor recovery exist. In order to solve these, some optimizations have been performed in this work. For sample preparation, both rinse and elution solutions were optimized, in which 6 mL of MeOH/water (1:9, v/v), MeOH/Ace/water (10:2:88, v/v/v), and MeOH/NH₄OH/water (10:2:88, v/v/v) were determined as the rinse solution, while 6 mL of 2.0% NH₄OH/MeOH was determined as the elution solution for conjugated NEs (C-NEs). For mobile phase, addition of NH₄F could obviously enhance the signal response of the nine target compounds, and the optimized addition concentration was 0.5 mmol/L. The developed efficient method was validated and showed excellent linearity for each target compound (R² > 0.998), low limit of quantifications (LOQs, 0.07-1.29 ng/L) in four different water matrices, and excellent recovery efficiencies of 81.0-116.1% in influent, effluent, ultra-pure, and river water samples with low relative standard deviations (RSDs, 0.6-13.6%). The optimized method was successfully applied to influent, effluent, and Pearl River water, among which three NEs were all detected, while five C-NEs were found in the influent, three C-NEs were detected in the effluent, and two C-NEs were found in the Pearl River water, indicating the wide distribution of NEs and C-NEs in different water environments. This work provided a reliable and efficient analytical method for simultaneous trace determination of NEs and C-NEs, which had satisfactory absolute recoveries with low RSDs, low LOQs, and time-saving for both analysis and nitrogen drying.

Investigation of free and conjugated estrogen fate and emission coefficients in three duck farms

Concentration animal feeding operation (CAFO) is an important source of environmental estrogen. However, to the best of our knowledge, the data on estrogen discharge during duck breeding and growth is insufficient. This study used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to analyze the free and conjugated estrogen concentrations in the surface water, outlet water, groundwater, and duck manure/soil mixture at three duck farms in Taiwan. Natural estrogen species included estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), estrone-3-sulfate (E1-3S), 17β-estradiol-3-sulfate (E2-3S), estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3G), and 17β-estradiol-3-glucuronide (E2-3G), whereas synthetic estrogen included 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES). This study showed that the total estrogen concentrations in the surface water and groundwater were 15.4 and 4.5 ng/L, respectively, which constituted 56% and 58%, respectively, conjugated estrogen. From the pond to the outlet water, the total estrogen concentration decreased by 3.9 ng/L (23% loss) in the duck farms. However, the estrogenic potency was slightly reduced from 0.91 to 0.88 E2 equivalent/L, showing a negligible decrease. From the pond to the outlet water, the field results showed that converting the conjugated estrogen into free estrogen in the duck farm-released water increased their environmental hazard. Primarily E1, with an average concentration of 0.9 ± 1.6 ng/g, was present in the duck manure. The estrogen excreted by the ducks in the pond (from surface water to outlet water) was estimated to be 0.18 kg/million head-year. Although the estrogen concentration in the duck farms was low, the environmental impact of CAFO should not be neglected.

Synthesis of the Magnetically Nanoporous Organic Polymer Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2-COP and Its Application in the Determination of Sulfonamide Residues in Surface Water Surrounding a Cattle Farm

Efficient extractions of trace antibiotic residues in the environment are a key factor for accurate quantification of the residues. A new nanoporous material, namely, magnetically covalent organic polymer (MCOP, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-NH₂-COP) was synthesized in this work and was used for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). The combination of MSPE with high-performance liquid chromatography separation together with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was established as an effective method for the determination of four sulfonamide (SA) residues in surface water surrounding a cattle farm. The synthesized magnetic material was characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, magnetic properties measurement system (MPMS), and nitrogen gas porosimetry. The material possessed many attractive features, such as a unique microporous structure, a larger specific surface area (137.93 m²·g⁻¹) than bare Fe₃O₄ (24.84 m²·g⁻¹), high saturation magnetization (50.5 emu·g⁻¹), open adsorption sites, and high stability. The influencing parameters, including pH, the used amount of MCOPs, the type of eluent, adsorption solution, and desorption time, were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the method conferred good linearity ranges (R² ≥ 0.9990), low detection limits (S/N = 3, LOD, 0.10–0.25 μg·L⁻¹), and satisfactory recoveries (79.7% to 92.2%). The enrichment factor (EF) for the four SAs was 34.13–38.86. The relative standard deviations of intraday (n = 5) and of interday (n = 3) were less than 4.8% and 8.9%, respectively. The equilibria between extraction and desorption for SAs could be reached within 150 s. The proposed method was sensitive and convenient for detecting SA residues in complex environmental matrices, and the successful application of the new MCOPs as an adsorbent was demonstrated.

Dynamic Microwave-Assisted Micelle Extraction Coupled with Cloud Point Preconcentration for the Determination of Triazine Herbicides in Soil

A green and simple method, dynamic microwave-assisted micelle extraction coupled with cloud point preconcentration, was developed for the determination of triazine herbicides in soil samples. The method has the advantages of those two extraction procedures, which could eliminate the interferences from complex soil samples greatly. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 aqueous solution used as extraction solvent was continuously pumped into soil samples. The resulting extract was heated and centrifuged in the presence of NaCl. After centrifugation, the analytes were enriched into the surfactant-rich phase. No filtration or cleaning steps were required. Several key parameters were investigated. The Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize the experimental factors involved in the dynamic microwave-assisted micelle extraction. Good linearity was observed in the range of 1.00-250.00 μg kg-1. The limits of detection were ranged between 0.26 and 1.71 μg kg-1. The recoveries of analytes ranged from 80.3 to 98.3% with the relative standard deviations ranging from 1.1 to 6.6%.

Tetracyclines in the environment: An overview on the occurrence, fate, toxicity, detection, removal methods, and sludge management

Tetracyclines (TCs) are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics having vast human, veterinary, and aquaculture applications. The continuous release of TCs residues into the environment and the inadequate removal through the conventional treatment systems result in its prevalent occurrence in soil, surface water, groundwater, and even in drinking water. As aqueous TCs contamination is the tip of the iceberg, and TCs possess good sorption capacity towards soil, sediments, sludge, and manure, it is insufficient to rely on the sorptive removal in the conventional water treatment plants. The severity of the TCs contamination is evident from the emergence of TCs resistance in a wide variety of microorganisms. This paper reviews the recent research on the TCs occurrence in the environmental matrices, fate in natural systems, toxic effects, and the removal methods. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of TCs in environmental samples and the associated technology developments are analyzed. The benefits and limitations of biochemical and physicochemical removal processes are also discussed. This work draws attention to the inevitability of proper TC sludge management. This paper also gives insight into the limitations of TCs related research and the future scope of research in environmental contamination by TCs residues.

Evidence that watershed nutrient management practices effectively reduce estrogens in environmental waters

We evaluate the impacts of different nutrient management strategies on the potential for co-managing estrogens and nutrients in environmental waters of the Potomac watershed of the Chesapeake Bay. These potential co-management approaches represent agricultural and urban runoff, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and combined sewer overflow replacements. Twelve estrogenic compounds and their metabolites were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Estrogenic activity (E₂Eq) was measured by in vitro bioassay. We detected estrone E₁ (0.05-6.97 ng L^-1) and estriol E₃ (below detection-8.13 ng L^-1) and one conjugated estrogen (estrone-3-sulfate E₁-3S; below detection-8.13 ng L^-1). E₁ was widely distributed and positively correlated with E₂Eq, water temperature, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Among nonpoint sources, E₂Eq, and concentrations of E₁, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) decreased by 51-61%, 77-82%, 62-64%, 4-16% in restored urban and agricultural streams with best management practices (BMPs) relative to unrestored streams without BMPs. In a wastewater treatment plant (Blue Plains WWTP), >94% of E₁, E₁-3S, E₃, E₂Eq and TDN were removed while SRP increased by 305% during nitrification/denitrification as a part of advanced wastewater treatment. Consequently, E₁ and TDN concentrations in WWTP effluents were comparable or even lower than those observed in the receiving stream or river waters, and the effects of wastewater discharges on downstream E₁ and TDN concentrations were minor. Highest E₂Eq value and concentrations of E1, E3, and TDN were detected in combined sewer overflow (CSO). This study suggests that WWTP upgrades with biological nutrient removal, CSO management, and certain agricultural and urban BMPs for nutrient controls have the potential to remove estrogens from point and nonpoint sources along with other contaminants in streams and rivers.

Persistence and impact of steroidal estrogens on the environment and their laccase-assisted removal

Steroidal estrogens are widespread water contaminants with potential carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting activities. The World Health Organization has listed estrogens as group 1 carcinogens. These contaminants are of substantial concern because of potential threats to human health, and aquatic organisms on long-term exposure. A range of methods, including oxidation, adsorption, electrochemical, and irradiation techniques have been employed for their remediation from aqueous systems. However, inadequate removal, toxic sludge generation, high operating costs, and the requisite for skilled operating and maintenance personnel commercially hampered the application of many methods. An interesting alternative treatment approach based on the use of oxidoreductases, particularly laccases, has recently gained amicability for the biotransformation of emerging pollutants. The use of immobilized enzymes is more cost-effective from an industrial perspective due to improved catalytic stability, reusability, reduction of product inhibition, and easier product separation. This review provides comprehensive knowledge on the use of laccases in the biodegradation of steroidal estrogens, including estrone, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol with endocrine-disrupting potency from the environment. After an overview of estrogens and catalytic properties of laccase, the use of free, as well as immobilized laccases with a particular emphasis on estrogens removal by laccase-based fed-batch, packed bed bioreactors, and membrane reactors, is discussed. A comparison of existing treatment technologies with enzyme technology for the removal of estrogens from different environmental matrices is made. Lastly, along with concluding remarks, future research direction aimed at bridging knowledge gaps for estrogenic compounds removal are also proposed in this very important research area.

Multiresidue Determination of 27 Sulfonamides in Poultry Feathers and Its Application to a Sulfamethazine Pharmacokinetics Study on Laying Hen Feathers and Sulfonamide Residue Monitoring on Poultry Feathers

A method for the simultaneous determination of 27 sulfonamides in poultry feathers using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established in this study. The samples were extracted using 0.1 mol/L HCl solutions in a 60 °C water bath for 2 h, purified using hydrophilic-lipophilic balance solid-phase extraction, nitrogen-dried, and then reconstituted for UPLC-MS/MS analysis, which was performed with a CSH-C18 column. Linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, and precision were calculated in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. For linearity, all standard curves showed a standard coefficient greater than 0.99, and the recoveries and coefficient of variation were 89-115% and <20%, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.2-5 and 0.5-20 ng/g, respectively. The method was successfully applied to sulfamethazine (SMZ) residue accumulation monitoring in laying hen feathers and sulfonamide residue monitoring on poultry feathers. SMZ residue accumulation in the laying hen feathers was studied after administration with 100 mg/kg of SMZ for 21 consecutive days. SMZ residues were still detected in feathers 14 days after drug administration and persisted for up to 85 days. Results from 42 poultry feather samples showed that the feather is a suitable medium to monitor the illegal use of sulfonamides in poultry production.

Mineralization and Biotransformation of Estrone in Simulated Poultry Litter and Cow Manure Runoff Water

Application of animal manure on agricultural lands is one of the main sources of estrogen contamination in the environment. Poultry and cow manure contain free and conjugated forms of the natural estrogens (e.g., estrone [E1] and estradiol [E2]) that can enter surface waters during runoff events. Estrone has been identified as the major form of estrogen in the environment; therefore, this study is focused on the evaluation of the degree of mineralization and fate of E1 in a simulated poultry litter and cow manure runoff water. A time-course study was conducted using simulated runoff water that consisted of 0.5 mg cow manure or poultry litter dissolved in 1 L of water spiked with radiolabeled E1 (C-E1). Samples were analyzed for estrogen concentrations at Day 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In the poultry litter simulated runoff water, E1 was biotransformed to 17β-estrone-3-sulfate (E1-3S) but was eventually mineralized to CO; a total E1 mineralization of 92.2% occurred after 7 d of aerobic incubation. In contrast, the concentrations of E1 and other forms of endogenous estrogens detected in the cow manure simulated runoff water, such as E1-3S, 17α-estradiol (α-E2), and 17β-estradiol (β-E2), remained relatively constant and persisted over the 7 d of aerobic incubation. Results of this study demonstrate the differences in the fate of estrone in the simulated poultry litter and cow manure runoff water, highlighting the ability of the endogenous microbial community from poultry litter to mineralize estrogens to CO.

Occurrence, sorption, and transformation of free and conjugated natural steroid estrogens in the environment

Natural steroid estrogens (NSEs), including free estrogens (FEs) and conjugated estrogens (CEs), are of emerging concern globally among public and scientific community due to their recognized adverse effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems in recent years. In this review, the properties, occurrence, sorption process, and transformation pathways of NSEs are clarified in the environment. The work comprehensively summarizes the occurrence of both free and conjugated estrogens in different natural and built environments (e.g., river, WWTPs, CAFOs, soil, and sediment). The sorption process of NSEs can be impacted by organic compounds, colloids, composition of clay minerals, specific surface area (SSA), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH value. The degradation and transformation of free and conjugated estrogens in the environment primarily involves oxidation, reduction, deconjugation, and esterification reactions. Elaboration about the major, subordinate, and minor transformation pathways of both biotic and abiotic processes among NSEs is highlighted. The moiety types and binding sites also would affect deconjugation degree and preferential transformation pathways of CEs. Notably, some intermediate products of NSEs still remain estrogenic potency during transformation process; the elimination of total estrogenic activity needs to be addressed in further studies. The in-depth researches regarding the behavior of both free and conjugated estrogens are further required to tackle their contamination problem in the ecosystem. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Towards a harmonized method for the global reconnaissance of multi-class antimicrobials and other pharmaceuticals in wastewater and receiving surface waters

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide problem that is both pressing and challenging due to the rate at which it is spreading, and the lack of understanding of the mechanisms that link human, animal and environmental sources contributing to its proliferation. One knowledge gap that requires immediate attention is the significance of antimicrobial residues and other pharmaceuticals that are being discharged from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. In this work we provide an approach to develop a harmonized analytical method for 8 classes of antimicrobials and other pharmaceuticals that can be used for global monitoring in wastewater and receiving waters. Analysis of these trace organic chemicals in the influent and effluent wastewater, and in the respective upstream and downstream receiving waters from different countries across the globe is not trivial. Here, we demonstrated that sample preparation using solid-phase extraction (SPE) not only provides a convenient and cost-effective shipping of samples, but also adds stability to the analytes during international shipping. It is important that SPE cartridges are maintained at cold temperature during shipment if the duration is longer than 7 days because a significant decrease in recoveries were observed after 7 days in the cartridges stored at room temperature, especially for sulfonamides and tetracyclines. To compensate for sample degradation during shipment, and matrix effects in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, the use of stable isotope labeled compounds should be employed when available and affordable. The importance of applying a defined tolerance for the ion ratios (Q/q) that have been optimized for wastewater and surface water is discussed. The tolerance range was set to be the mean Q/q of the analyte standard at various concentrations ±40% for the influent, and ±30% for the effluent, upstream, and downstream samples; for tetracyclines and quinolones, however, the tolerance range was ±80% in order to minimize false negative and false positive detection. The optimized procedures were employed to reveal differences in antimicrobial and pharmaceutical concentrations in influent, effluent, and surface water samples from Hong Kong, India, Philippines, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States. The antimicrobials with the highest concentrations in influent and effluent samples were ciprofloxacin (48,103 ng/L, Hong Kong WWTP 1) and clarithromycin (5178 ng/L, India WWTP 2), respectively. On the other hand, diclofenac (108,000 ng/L, Sweden WWTP 2), caffeine (67,000 ng/L, India WWTP 1), and acetaminophen (28,000 ng/L, India WWTP 1) were the highest detected pharmaceuticals in the receiving surface water samples. Hong Kong showed the highest total antimicrobial concentrations that included macrolides, quinolones, and sulfonamides with concentrations reaching 60,000 ng/L levels in the influent. Antidepressants were predominant in Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

Twenty Years of Riparian Zone Research (1997-2017): Where to Next?

Riparian zones have been used for water quality management with respect to NO in subsurface flow and total P (TP), sediments, and pesticides in overland flow for decades. Only recently has the fate and transport of soluble reactive P (SRP), Hg, emerging contaminants, and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (NO, CO, and CH) been examined in riparian zones. Overall, riparian zones are efficient at reducing emerging contaminants in subsurface flow and only function as hot spots of methylmercury production in the landscape when dominated by Hg-rich wet organic soils. However, riparian zones do not provide consistent benefits with respect to SRP removal or GHG emissions. Although most existing riparian models almost exclusively focus on NO removal, recent developments in riparian models demonstrate the potential for using easily accessible digital environmental datasets to simulate and scale up riparian functions beyond NO removal to include SRP, TP, and GHG dynamics. To further inform integrated watershed management efforts, more research should be conducted on how various practices, including stream restoration, subsurface drainage, two-stage ditches, beaver dam analogues, denitrification bioreactors and permeable reactive barriers, artificial wetlands, and short-rotation forestry crops affect riparian water and air quality functions. Riparian zone benefits should be discussed not only with respect to water and air quality, but also in terms of recreation, habitat for wildlife, and other ecosystem services. More research is needed to fully address potential water quality or air quality tradeoffs associated with riparian zone management in a multicontaminant-multiuse landscape context.

Mass spectrometry based detection of common vitellogenin peptides across fish species for assessing exposure to estrogenic compounds in aquatic environments

The identification of myriad of chemicals in the environment that mimic hormones and affect the endocrine functions of exposed organism is a daunting analytical challenge for environmental scientists and engineers. Many of these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present at very low concentrations in the aquatic systems, but yet affect the metabolic, developmental, and reproductive functions in exposed fish and wildlife. Vitellogenin (VTG) protein is a widely used biomarker in fish for assessing exposure to EDCs, and is commonly measured using species-specific immunochemical techniques. In this study, we developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that can measure common peptides from digested VTG in multiple fish species. In the initial experiments using high resolution mass spectrometry, two peptides (ALHPELR and FIELIQLLR) were identified as common fragments in the digested VTG protein isolated from three different fish species (Pimephales promelas, Micropterus salmoides, and Fundulus heteroclitus). Then, a quantitative analysis using LC-MS/MS under selected reaction monitoring mode was developed for the detection of these two peptides in trypsin-digested plasma from female fish (positive control), estrogen-exposed male fish (test sample), and unexposed male fish (negative control) using two of the same species used for identifying the common peptides (P. promelas, and M. salmoides) and one new species (Ameiurus nebulosus) that was not included during the selection of peptides. Results from this study demonstrate the potential of LC-MS/MS as an effective cross-species method to detect VTG in fish, which can be an alternative analytical technique for assessing endocrine disruption in multiple fish species.

Pressurized liquid extraction of six tetracyclines from agricultural soils

Veterinary antibiotics used in agriculture can be introduced into the environment through land application of animal manure, accumulating in soils and groundwaters and posing a significant risk to human health and animal well-being. As the analysis of tetracyclines in soil is challenging due to their strong interaction with soil minerals and organic carbon, the objective of this study was to develop a reliable and reproducible method for quantitative analysis of chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline, and their respective metabolites in soils. A method based on pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with in-cell clean-up was developed for the extraction of chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline and four likely metabolites from a set of four soils. Optimized conditions included a cell size of 22 mL, soil loading of 5 g, pH of 8.0, methanol:water ratio of 3:1, 50 °C, and two cycles. Soil extracts were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (MS). Recoveries of seven tetracyclines from soil ranged from 41% to 110%. The limits of detection for tetracyclines were 0.08-0.3 µg g^-1 soil, and intra- and inter-day variation ranged from 0.12-0.34%. The proposed PLE method is suitable for quantification of tetracyclines in agricultural soils at typical concentrations expected in contaminated environments.

Modifications of Au Nanoparticle-Functionalized Graphene for Sensitive Detection of Sulfanilamide

In this paper, we present a simple and feasible electrochemical sensor based on Au nanoparticle-functionalized graphene for the determination of sulfanilamide. Au nanoparticles were deposited on graphene, which acted as a platform to prepare excellent nanocomposites. Attributed to the graphene’s large surface area and the Au nanoparticles’ strong conductivity, many sulfanilamide molecules were enriched on the sensor surface and the signal response became more sensitive. Under the optimal conditions, the electrochemical sensors could be used for the efficient detection of sulfanilamide. Good linearity was observed in the range of 0.1–1000 μmol·L⁻¹ and the detection limit was 0.011 μmol·L⁻¹. Most importantly, the Au nanoparticle-functionalized graphene-modified electrode could be successfully applied for the detection of sulfanilamide in animal meat, and exhibited good stability, acceptable recovery, and offered a promising platform for point-of-care detecting in real samples.

Determination of Sulfonamides in Chicken Muscle by Pulsed Direct Current Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A simple and rapid approach for the simultaneous detection of trace amounts of six sulfonamides in chicken muscle was developed using pulsed direct current electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS). The pretreatment of chicken muscle samples consisted of two steps: acetonitrile extraction and n-hexane delipidation. Sulfonamides do not need to be derivatized or chromatographed prior to pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS. The factors affecting the performance of pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS were studied. Under optimum conditions, the quantitative performance of pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS was validated according to European Union Decision 2002/657/EC, and the sensitivity of pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS was 3 times higher than that of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The limits of detection obtained by pulsed-dc ESI-MS/MS were in the range of 0.07-0.11 μg/kg. The proposed method was simple, rapid, and sensitive, and was successfully used for quantitation and rapid screening of sulfonamides in real chicken muscle samples.

In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Aqueously Extractable Estrogens in Poultry Manure after Pilot-scale Composting

Poultry manure contains free and conjugated forms of the natural estrogens 17β-estradiol and estrone, which can be transported to receiving waters via runoff when land-applied. Previous studies have demonstrated estrogens in runoff from poultry manure-amended fields but have not tracked changes in estrogenicity within this water over time. Microbial conversion of conjugated estrogens (a major portion of water-extractable estrogens) to parent forms may result in temporary increases in estrogenicity in natural water bodies. The present study created 80-L batches of simulated poultry manure runoff, which were investigated over 10 d for estrogenicity by bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen assay and fathead minnow () vitellogenin induction model. The efficacy of different compost conditions (in-vessel aeration ± turning, and piling) on reduction/elimination of aqueously extractable estrogens in poultry manure was also investigated. Results indicate 3- to 10-fold increases in estrogenicity in various poultry manure mixtures during 10-d observations. Estrogenicity returned to low levels in postcompost treatments but remained elevated in the precompost treatment. Aerated compost resulted in >75% reductions in initial, peak, and 10-d mean estrogenicity in aqueous mixtures (0.3, 0.8, and 0.5 ng 17β-estradiol equivalents [EEQ] L, respectively) compared with the precompost mixture (1.4, 4.8, and 2.1 ng EEQ L, respectively). Estrogenicity was significantly higher in the aqueous extract from the piled treatment than the aerated treatment, and 10-d exposure of male fish to the piled treatment resulted in statistically significant vitellogenin induction. Collectively, our results suggest a need to investigate estrogenicity in surface waters for several days after receiving manure-influenced runoff.

Metagenomic profiling of historic Colorado Front Range flood impact on distribution of riverine antibiotic resistance genes

Record-breaking floods in September 2013 caused massive damage to homes and infrastructure across the Colorado Front Range and heavily impacted the Cache La Poudre River watershed. Given the unique nature of this watershed as a test-bed for tracking environmental pathways of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, we sought to determine the impact of extreme flooding on ARG reservoirs in river water and sediment. We utilized high-throughput DNA sequencing to obtain metagenomic profiles of ARGs before and after flooding, and investigated 23 antibiotics and 14 metals as putative selective agents during post-flood recovery. With 277 ARG subtypes identified across samples, total bulk water ARGs decreased following the flood but recovered to near pre-flood abundances by ten months post-flood at both a pristine site and at a site historically heavily influenced by wastewater treatment plants and animal feeding operations. Network analysis of de novo assembled sequencing reads into 52,556 scaffolds identified ARGs likely located on mobile genetic elements, with up to 11 ARGs per plasmid-associated scaffold. Bulk water bacterial phylogeny correlated with ARG profiles while sediment phylogeny varied along the river’s anthropogenic gradient. This rare flood afforded the opportunity to gain deeper insight into factors influencing the spread of ARGs in watersheds.

Parent and conjugated estrogens and progestagens in surface water of the Santa Ana River: Determination, occurrence, and risk assessment

The present study investigated the occurrence of 13 parent and conjugated estrogens and progestagens in surface water of the Santa Ana River. With the exception of the synthetic hormones 17α-ethynylestradiol and mestranol, other compounds were detected at least twice at 10 representative sites, with the ubiquitous estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol-3-sulfate as the dominant compounds quantified (0.24-6.37 ng/L and 0.49-9.25 ng/L, respectively). Sites near dairy farms exhibited high levels of conjugates, whereas those close to a sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent outlet displayed relatively high concentrations of E1. Principle component analysis coupled with multiple linear regression revealed dairy farms and the STP as the 2 significant contamination sources, accounting for 69.9% and 31.1% of the total hormone burden, respectively. Risk assessment results suggested E1 and 17β-estradiol (E2) as the 2 hormones with the largest risks to aquatic organisms, and which combined, contributed >90% of the total estrogenicity. Most of the sites investigated showed that E1 and E2 posed a medium risk (0.1 < risk quotient < 1), whereas each induced a high risk (risk quotient >1) at sites severely impacted by the STP and dairy farms. These results suggest that river health would benefit from effective treatment of waste at the STP and dairy farms prior to discharge. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2657-2664. © 2016 SETAC.

Simultaneous determination of estrogens and progestogens in honey using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This work describes the development and validation of a method for the simultaneous determination of 13 estrogens and progestogens in honey by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The hormones were preconcentrated by solid phase extraction. Pretreatment variables were optimized for a better compatibility with electrospray ionization interfaced mass spectrometry. The analytes were analyzed in multiple-reaction monitoring mode with two pairs of precursor product ion transitions. The proposed method was validated with method detection limits of 0.01-0.33ng/g and good linearities (r²>0.9901) throughout the studied concentration range. The recoveries of analytes at the spiking levels (5ng/g and 25ng/g) ranged from 71.2% to 99.7%, with relative standard deviations below 20%. The method was used to determine the target compounds in honey samples (orange blossom, clover and multiflower) obtained from supermarkets. Two samples of honey were found to contain trace amounts of estrone (<MQL) or progesterone (0.2±0.1ng/g), respectively.

Analysis of sulfonamides in soil, sediment, and sludge based on dynamic microwave-assisted micellar extraction

A green and high-throughput analytical method was described for the simultaneous determination of ten sulfonamides (SAs) from soil, sediment, and sludge in northeast China. None of potentially hazardous organic solvents was used in the whole sample preparation procedure, and the total preparation time of 15 samples was about 18 min. The limits of detection for the SAs were in the range of 0.42-0.68 ng g(-1). The intra-day and inter-day precisions, expressed by the relative standard deviation, were below 7 %. Under the optimum conditions, the recoveries of ten SAs were between 69.7 and 102.7 %. The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze the SAs residues in agricultural soils, river sediments, and sewage sludge. SAs were found at the levels of 1.40-2.31 ng g(-1) and 3.77-29.29 ng g(-1) in the sediments and sludge, respectively. The aging effect of spiked soil samples on the SAs recoveries was examined, and the results demonstrate that eight SAs could persist in five soils for 3 months. Compared with the traditional method, the proposed method could reduce the consumption of the organic solvent, shorten the sample preparation time, and increase the sample throughput.

Upconversion Nanoparticles and Monodispersed Magnetic Polystyrene Microsphere Based Fluorescence Immunoassay for the Detection of Sulfaquinoxaline in Animal-Derived Foods

A novel fluorescence immunoassay for detecting sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) in animal-derived foods was developed using NaYF4:Yb/Tm upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) conjugated with antibodies as fluorescence signal probes, and monodisperse magnetic polystyrene microspheres (MMPMs) modified with coating antigen as immune-sensing capture probes for trapping and separating the signal probes. Based on a competitive immunoassay format, the detection limit of the proposed method for detecting SQX was 0.1 μg L(-1) in buffer and 0.5 μg kg(-1) in food samples. The recoveries of SQX in spiked samples ranged from 69.80 to 133.00%, with coefficients of variation of 0.24-25.06%. The extraction procedure was fast, simple, and environmentally friendly, requiring no organic solvents. In particular, milk samples can be analyzed directly after simple dilution. This method has appealing properties, such as sensitive fluorescence response, a simple and fast extraction procedure, and environmental friendliness, and could be applied to detecting SQX in animal-derived foods.

Chemical and biological assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals in a full scale dairy manure anaerobic digester with thermal pretreatment

Concentrated animal feeding operations are important sources of estrogens and their conjugates, which are introduced into the environment through manure land application. In this study, concentrations of estrogens were measured in an anaerobic co-digestion system with thermal pasteurization pretreatment. Free estrogens (estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17β-estradiol (E2β), estriol (E3)) were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and conjugated estrogens (sulfate- and glucuronide-conjugates) were analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Additionally, yeast estrogen screen assay was used to determine the estrogenic potential of the manure. The total hormone concentrations (mainly E1, E2α, E2β, and sulfated estrogens) were observed at concentrations up to a total of 7100ng/L in the liquid fraction, while free estrogen levels were 630ng/kg in the solid fraction of the untreated manure. The total hormone concentration did not decrease significantly during digestion, however, the relative composition of the estrogens changed from E2α (65%) being the predominant species before digestion to mostly E1 (72%) after digestion. This conversion process has important implications because E1 is more estrogenic than E2α. Total E2 equivalents associated with E1, E2α and E2β concentrations as determined by GC/MS indicate that E1 is the most important contributor to the endocrine-disruption activity of the treated manure.

Enhancing Extraction and Detection of Veterinary Antibiotics in Solid and Liquid Fractions of Manure

Analysis of veterinary antibiotics in separated liquid and solid fractions of animal manures is vital because of wide variations in the composition of agriculturally applied manure. Differentiation of antibiotic concentrations is important between liquid and solid manures, as their sorption onto the solid fraction depends on physicochemical properties of each antibiotic and manure composition (e.g., organic content, pH) and because each fraction may be treated and reused differently. Here, an efficient and sensitive method for the analysis of 22 veterinary antibiotics in the liquid and solid fractions of manure is reported. Tetracycline (TC), macrolide, and sulfonamide antibiotics were extracted from liquid manure by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with methanol following acidification with acetic acid. Extraction from solids was performed by sonication with acetonitrile, methanol, and 0.1 M EDTA-McIlvaine buffer. Cleanup of extracts was achieved by solid-phase extraction with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridges or tandem amino (NH2) and HLB cartridges. Quantification of antibiotics was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) under wrong-way-round (WWR) ionization for sulfonamides and TCs and right-way-round ionization for macrolides. Recoveries of 58 to 94.7% and 62 to 94.3% were obtained in liquid and solid manure, respectively. Method detection limits range from 1.2 to 12 ng L and 0.5 to 7.9 μg kg dry wt. in liquids and solids, respectively. This method allows for extraction and analysis of both mobile antibiotics in liquid phase and hydrophobic antibiotics adsorbed on the solids. Without separate analysis, antibiotic concentrations may be improperly estimated by analyzing whole manure, as reported in many studies to date.

Accumulation of steroid hormones in soil and its adjacent aquatic environment from a typical intensive vegetable cultivation of North China

Steroid hormones released from manure agricultural application are a matter of global concern. The residual levels of steroid hormones were studied in a typical intensive vegetable cultivation area in northeast China, with a long history of heavy manure application. Seven steroids (estrone, 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, estriol, testosterone, androstendione and progesterone) were analyzed from soil sampled from vegetable greenhouses, from sediments and water from the adjacent drainage ditch and from the groundwater. The results showed that target steroids were detected in the soil samples, with detection frequencies varying from 3.13 to 100%. The steroid concentrations varied substantially in soils, ranging from below the detection limit to 109.7μg·kg(-1). Three steroids-progesterone, androstendione and estrone-were found to have relatively high residue concentrations in soil, with maximum concentrations of 109.7, 9.83 and 13.30μg·kg(-1), respectively. In adjacent groundwater, all the steroids, with the exception of estrone, were detected in one or more of the 13 groundwater samples. The concentrations of steroids in groundwater ranged from below the method detection limit to 2.38ng·L(-1). Six of the seven (excluding androstendione) were detected in drainage ditch water samples, with concentrations ranging from below the detection limit to 14ng·L(-1). Progesterone, androstendione and estrone accumulated relatively easily in soils; their concentrations in groundwater were lower than those of other steroids. The concentrations of testosterone and estriol were relatively low in soil, while in groundwater were higher than those of other steroids. The residual levels of steroids in soil and groundwater showed a clear spatial variation in the study area. The residual levels of steroid hormones in soil varied substantially between differently planted greenhouses.

Portable and reusable optofluidics-based biosensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of sulfadimidine in dairy products

Sulfadimidine (SM₂) is a highly toxic and ubiquitous pollutant which requires rapid, sensitive and portable detection method for environmental and food monitoring. Herein, the use for the detection of SM₂ of a portable optofluidics-based biosensing platform, which was used for the accurate detection of bisphenol A, atrazine and melamine, is reported for the first time. The proposed compact biosensing system combines the advantages of an evanescent wave immunosensor and microfluidic technology. Through the indirect competitive immunoassay, the detection limit of the proposed optofluidics-based biosensing platform for SM₂ reaches 0.05 μg·L⁻¹ at the concentration of Cy5.5-labeled antibody of 0.1 μg·mL⁻¹. Linearity is obtained over a dynamic range from 0.17 μg·L⁻¹ to 10.73 μg·L⁻¹. The surface of the fiber probe can be regenerated more than 300 times by means of 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution (pH = 1.9) washes without losing sensitivity. This method, featuring high sensitivity, portability and acceptable reproducibility shows potential in the detection of SM₂ in real milk and other dairy products.

Absolute quantification of the Kdp subunits of Escherichia coli by multiple reaction monitoring

The sensor kinase/response regulator system KdpD/KdpE of Escherichia coli regulates the expression of the kdpFABC operon, encoding the high-affinity KdpFABC potassium (K(+) )-transport complex. Additionally, it has been suggested that the kdpDE operon itself is subjected to autoregulation by its gene products KdpD and KdpE. However, since kdpFABC and kdpDE expression has mainly been studied on the transcriptional level, accurate information on absolute amounts and the stoichiometric subunit composition of KdpFABC and KdpD/KdpE under K(+) -limiting and K(+) -nonlimiting growth conditions are lacking. In this study, we used highly sensitive mass spectrometric methods to quantify the amount of subunits of the Kdp(F)ABC complex and KdpD/KdpE. Data-dependent shotgun MS was used to assess protein coverage and accessible peptides. Absolute amounts of Kdp(F)ABC and KdpD/KdpE were quantified by targeted MRM analysis in the presence of corresponding heavy labeled standard peptides. Baseline synthesis of Kdp(F)ABC and KdpD/KdpE was found to be in the attomolar range under K(+) -nonlimiting conditions. Under K(+) -limitation, synthesis of Kdp(F)ABC (KdpA:KdpB:KdpC ratio of 1:1:1) was amplified more than 100-fold, whereas only a tenfold amplification of KdpD/KdpE (KdpD:KdpE ratio of 1:4) was observed. The results obtained provide a solid basis for follow-up studies on the dynamic regulation of the Kdp system.

Impact of recent manure applications on natural estrogen concentrations in streams near agricultural fields

Few studies on natural estrogens have been conducted in agricultural ecosystems. High (up to 58 ng/L) estrone concentrations were measured shortly after applications of manure in a small agricultural watershed. No other estrogens (17ß-estradiol, estrone or estriol) were detected afterward (first three rainfalls after applications). Results suggest that aquatic organisms in agricultural watersheds could be exposed to estrone shortly after manure applications, probably from leaching of land-applied animal wastes, but that this exposure would be short-lived.

Ultrasensitive Nano-ELISA for Detecting Sulfadimethoxine in Chicken Tissue

It is challenging to obtain a highly sensitive enzyme-linked sorbent immunoassay (ELISA) method for the rapid screening of veterinary drug residue in animal tissues. Here we present that a simple and sensitive detection for sulfadimethoxine (SDM) residue in animal tissues was achieved by utilizing a bioconjugate of gold nanoparticles and enzyme-labeled antibody as signal probe in enzyme-linked sorbent immunoassay (ELISA). The developed nano-ELISA has increased the sensitivity of a traditional ELISA for SDM by 20-fold. The sensitivity of this ELISA was 5 pg/mL in buffer, and the detection limit (LOD) of 0.2 µg/kg can be obtained after chicken liver was simply extracted by buffer. This simple and sensitive method can be used to improve the sensitivity of ELISA methods for various small molecule contaminants.