Optimization, validation, and the application of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of new drugs of abuse in wastewater.

Recently it was demonstrated that the analysis of drugs of abuse (DOA) in wastewater can be used to track their use in communities. This paper presents the optimization, validation, and application of an analytical procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of some emerging drugs in influent wastewater. The compounds of interest were the cathinone derivatives methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone (MEPH)), ketamine (KET) and its metabolites norketamine (NK) and dehydronorketamine (DHNK), as well as the major metabolite of cannabis, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH).

Investigation of source apportioning for alpha-HCH using enantioselective analysis.

Enantiomeric analysis can be used as a complementary tool for source apportionment of chiral compounds, particularly for alpha-HCH. In this study we used archived samples from studies related to the distribution of POPs in air-water and air-soil-grass systems. Such approach is based on the behaviour of chiral compounds released into the atmosphere from a primary source, when they are expected to show racemic or close to racemic composition.

Inter-species differences for polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in marine top predators from the Southern North Sea: Part 1. Accumulation patterns in harbour seals and harbour porpoises.

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are two representative top predator species of the North Sea ecosystem. The median values of sum of 21 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and sum of 10 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were 23.1 microg/g lipid weight (lw) and 0.

Inter-species differences for polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in marine top predators from the Southern North Sea: Part 2. Biomagnification in harbour seals and harbour porpoises.

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were found to differ in the ability to metabolize polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Biomagnification factors (BMFs), calculated between both predators and their prey (sole--Solea solea and whiting--Merlangius merlangus), had a large range of variation (between 0.5 and 91 for PCBs and between 0.

Brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish from the river Scheldt, Belgium.

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in several fish species originating from the river Scheldt (Belgium). Five sampling locations were chosen in a highly industrialized area along the river, while two ponds in the vicinity of the river served as reference sites. The present study is a follow-up of a survey performed in 2000 which reported extremely high levels of PBDEs and HBCDs in eel (Anguilla anguilla) collected from the same region (Oudenaarde, Flanders).

Organochlorine contaminants in hair of adolescents from Iassy, Romania.

Human hair samples (n=42) from Iassy county (Eastern Romania) collected in 2002-2003 from adolescents were analyzed for hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, p,p'-DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane and metabolites and 5 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners. Very low levels were found for HCB and oxychlordane (0.8 and 2.

Simultaneous determination of bisphenol A, triclosan, and tetrabromobisphenol A in human serum using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-electron capture negative-ionization mass spectrometry.

This study aimed at optimizing and validating a sensitive method for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in human serum using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography coupled to electron-capture negative-ionization mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI/MS). Sample preparation involved denaturation of serum proteins with formic acid followed by SPE on an Oasis HLB cartridge. Fractionation was performed on Florisil from which the phenolic compounds were eluted with methanol-dichloromethane (DCM) (5:1, v/v).

Analysis of cocaine and its principal metabolites in waste and surface water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry.

A validated method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is described for the determination of cocaine (COC) and its principal metabolites, benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME), in waste and surface water. Several SPE adsorbents were investigated and the highest recoveries (95.7 +/- 5.

Levels and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments and biota from the Danube Delta, Romania.

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and analogues, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were measured in sediments and biota (invertebrates, 11 fish species and cormorant tissues) collected in 2001 from the Danube Delta, the biggest European wetland. DDTs were the predominant pollutants in all samples. A high variability in the concentrations of pollutants within the same species was observed and this was related to sampling location, age, length and sex.

Distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and alpha-HCH enantiomers in pork tissues.

The distribution of HCH isomers, DDT analogues and selected PCB congeners in pork organs collected from the same individuals raised in Romanian farms was investigated. Organochlorine pesticides (HCHs and DDTs) were the principal contaminants in all samples, while PCB concentrations were low, in accordance with previously reported concentrations from Romanian animal farms. The most part of the pollutant load in the body is retained in the adipose tissue, with HCHs ranging between 16 and 27.

Time trend investigation of PCBs, PBDEs, and organochlorine pesticides in selected n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid rich dietary fish oil and vegetable oil supplements; nutritional relevance for human essential n-3 fatty acid requirements.

In addition to being used in the food and animal feed industry, fish oils have also been used traditionally as dietary supplements. Due to the presence of long-chain n-3 fatty acids, fish oils have therapeutic benefits in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, immunological, and arthritic diseases, as well as childhood deficiency diseases such as rickets, because of a high content of vitamin D. However, fish oils are also susceptible to contamination with lipophilic organic chemicals that are now ubiquitous contaminants of marine ecosystems.

Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in soils from the East Antarctic coast.

Concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), alpha-, beta- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, 6 o,p'-and p,p'-isomers of DDT and 28 PCB congeners have been measured in eleven soil samples and one lichen collected on the Eastern coast of Antarctica from 5 Russian stations. For samples with low concentrations of PCBs (range 0.20-0.