Novel and legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a farmland environment: Soil distribution and biomonitoring with plant leaves and locusts.

The occurrence of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in multiple matrices from a farmland environment was investigated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei core area of northern China. PFASs were ubiquitously detected in farmland soils, and the detection frequency of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA) was higher than that of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (98% vs. 83%).

Artificial Sweeteners in Pig Feed: A Worldwide Survey and Case Study in Pig Farms in Tianjin, China.

Some artificial sweeteners (ASs) are used in pig feeds, although little is known on this regard. An investigation was conducted by determining seven common ASs in pig feed, manure, wastewater, compost, and soil from 16 pig farms in Tianjin, China. Saccharin (SAC) was predominant in feed (1.

Occurrence of organophosphate flame retardants in farmland soils from Northern China: Primary source analysis and risk assessment.

Ninety-eight soil samples were collected from farmland soils from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei core area, Northern China, where agricultural lands were subjected to contamination from intense urban and industrial activities. Twelve organophosphates flame retardants (OPFRs) were analyzed with total soil concentrations ranging from 0.543 μg/kg to 54.

Uptake mechanisms of perfluoroalkyl acids with different carbon chain lengths (C2-C8) by wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.).

Organic compounds could be taken up by plants via different pathways, depending on chemical properties and biological species, which is important for the risk assessment and risk control. To investigate the transport pathways of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) by wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.), the uptake of five perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs): TFA (C2), PFPrA (C3), PFBA (C4), PFHxA (C6), PFOA (C8), and a perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid: PFOS (C8)) were studied using hydroponic experiments.

Occurrence and enantiomer profiles of β-blockers in wastewater and a receiving water body and adjacent soil in Tianjin, China.

A total of 58 samples were collected from hospitals, municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), a receiving water body (Dagu Drainage Canal, DDC), and adjacent farmland in Tianjin City, China, in May and November 2013 and were analyzed for five common β-blockers (atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol, propranolol, and nadolol) to elucidate their source, occurrence and fate in a typical city in China. The profiles of the enantiomers of the β-blockers in some samples were examined. Sotalol, metoprolol and propranolol were frequently detected, atenolol was less frequently detected, and nadolol was mostly not detected.

Environmental exposure of anthropogenic micropollutants in the Prut River at the Romanian-Moldavian border: a snapshot in the lower Danube river basin.

The Prut River, the second longest tributary of the Danube river, was investigated for a wide range of anthropogenic organic pollutants to fill the data gap on environmental contamination in eastern European surface waters. In this study, the occurrence of a wide range of organic pollutants was measured along the transboundary Prut River, between Sculeni and Branza in 2010-2012. Using two different analytical methods, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, over 300 compounds were screened for and 88 compounds were determined in the Prut River.

Multimedia Distribution and Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Surrounding Two Fluorochemical Manufacturing Facilities in Fuxin, China.

Industrial facilities can be point sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) emission to the surrounding environment. In this study, 25 neutral and ionizable PFASs were analyzed in 94 multimedia samples including air, rain, outdoor settled dust, soil, plant leaves, river water, surface sediment, and shallow groundwater from two fluorochemical manufacturing parks (FMPs) in Fuxin, China, to elucidate the multimedia distribution and transfer pattern of PFASs from a point source. The concentrations of individual PFASs in air, outdoor settled dust, and surface river water decreased exponentially as the distance increases from the FMPs, whereas the concentrations of short-chain (C2-C4) perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) remained high (3000 ng/L) in the surface water 38 km away.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Indoor Air and Dust from Homes and Various Microenvironments in China: Implications for Human Exposure.

A newly developed solid-phase extraction cartridge composed of mixed sorbents was optimized for collection of both neutral and ionizable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in indoor air. Eighty-one indoor air samples and 29 indoor dust samples were collected from rooms of homes and hotels, textile shops, and cinemas in Tianjin, China. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) were the predominant PFASs found in air (250-82 300 pg/m) and hotel dust (24.

Environmental context and magnitude of disturbance influence trait-mediated community responses to wastewater in streams.

Human land uses and population growth represent major global threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Understanding how biological communities respond to multiple drivers of human-induced environmental change is fundamental for conserving ecosystems and remediating degraded habitats. Here, we used a replicated 'real-world experiment' to study the responses of invertebrate communities to wastewater perturbations across a land-use intensity gradient in 12 Swiss streams.

Occurrence and point source characterization of perfluoroalkyl acids in sewage sludge.

The occurrence and levels of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) emitted from specific pollution sources into the aquatic environment in Switzerland were studied using digested sewage sludges from 45 wastewater treatment plants in catchments containing a wide range of potential industrial emitters. Concentrations of individual PFAAs show a high spatial and temporal variability, which infers different contributions from industrial technologies and activities. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was generally the predominant PFAA with concentrations varying between 4 and 2440μgkg(-1) (median 75μgkg(-1)).

Perfluoroalkyl compounds in municipal WWTPs in Tianjin, China--concentrations, distribution and mass flow.

Backgrounds: Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have drawn much attention due to their environmental persistence, ubiquitous existence, and bioaccumulation potential. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are fundamental utilities in cities, playing an important role in preventing water pollution by lowering pollution load in waste waters. However, some of the emerging organic pollutants, like PFCs cannot be efficiently removed by traditional biological technologies in WWTPs, and some even increase in effluents compared to influents due to the incomplete degradation of precursors.

Identification of perfluoroalkyl acid sources in Swiss surface waters with the help of the artificial sweetener acesulfame.

Anthropogenic perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), especially the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitously found in surface waters around the globe. Emissions from households, industries and also atmospheric transport/deposition are discussed as the possible sources. In this study, these sources are evaluated using Switzerland as the study area.

Long-chain perfluorinated chemicals in digested sewage sludges in Switzerland.

This study focused on the occurrence of long-chain perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in anaerobically stabilized sewage sludges from 20 municipal WWTPs using current and historic samples to evaluate the levels of PFCs and to identify the relative importance of commercial and industrial sources. A quantitative analytical method was developed based on solvent extraction of the analytes and a LC-MS/MS system. For total perfluoralkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), the concentrations ranged from 14 to 50 μg/kg dry matter.

[Analysis of perfluorinated compounds in sludge by liquid extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

Perfluorinated compounds are emerging persistent organic pollutants. Wastewater treatment plants are reported to be one of their primary sources. However, a standard analytical method for sludge samples has not been set up.

Determination of biocides and pesticides by on-line solid phase extraction coupled with mass spectrometry and their behaviour in wastewater and surface water.

This study focused on the input of hydrophilic biocides into the aquatic environment and on the efficiency of their removal in conventional wastewater treatment by a mass flux analysis. A fully automated method consisting of on-line solid phase extraction coupled to LC-ESI-MS/MS was developed and validated for the simultaneous trace determination of different biocidal compounds (1,2-benzisothiazoline-3-one (BIT), 3-Iodo-2-propynylbutyl-carbamate (IPBC), irgarol 1051 and 2-N-octyl-4-isothiazolinone (octhilinone, OIT), carbendazim, diazinon, diuron, isoproturon, mecoprop, terbutryn and terbutylazine) and pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole) in wastewater and surface water. In the tertiary effluent, the highest average concentrations were determined for mecoprop (1010 ng/L) which was at comparable levels as the pharmaceuticals diclofenac (690 ng/L) and sulfamethoxazole (140 ng/L) but 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the other biocidal compounds.

Comparison of two extraction methods for the analysis of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals in digested sewage sludge.

A rapid and reliable analytical method, based on ion-pair extraction, clean-up on Envicarb cartridge and detection by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), was developed for determination of 17 per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in digested sewage sludge. Envicarb cartridge and six labeled internal standards were selected for the elimination/reduction and correction of matrix effects, respectively. As a result, the matrix effect for perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) with carbon chain length from C6 to C14 was lowered to a range of -14% to +28%.

Recent levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments of the sewer system in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The occurrence, temporal trend, sources and toxicity of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides were investigated in sediment samples from the sewer system of Hanoi City, including the rivers Nhue, To Lich, Lu, Set, Kim Nguu and the Yen So Lake. In general, the concentrations of the pollutants followed the order DDTs>PCBs>HCHs (beta-HCH)>HCB. However, the pollution pattern was different for the DDTs and PCBs when the sampling locations were individually evaluated.

Fate of beta-blocker human pharmaceuticals in surface water: comparison of measured and simulated concentrations in the Glatt Valley Watershed, Switzerland.

This study focused on the occurrence and fate of four beta-blockers (atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol, propranolol) in wastewater and surface water. Measured concentrations were compared with predicted concentrations using an implementation of the geo-referenced model GREAT-ER for the Glatt Valley Watershed (Switzerland). Particularly, the question was addressed how measured and simulated data could complement each other for the exposure assessment of human pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants entering surface water through wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

Environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals in the European Union: A case study with the β-blocker atenolol.

β-Adrenergic receptor blockers (β-blockers) are applied to treat high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and heart rhythm disturbances. Due to their widespread use and limited human metabolism, β-blockers are widely detected in sewage effluents and surface waters. β-Adrenergic receptors have been characterized in fish and other aquatic animals, so it can be expected that physiological processes regulated by these receptors in wild animals may be affected by the presence of β-blockers.

Environmental exposure of pharmaceuticals and musk fragrances in the Somes River before and after upgrading the municipal wastewater treatment plant Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Background, Aim, And Scope: Pharmaceutically active substances are a class of emerging contaminants, which has led to increasing concern about potential environmental risks. After excretion, substantial amounts of unchanged pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are discharged into domestic wastewaters. The absence of data on the environmental exposure in Eastern Europe is significant, since use patterns and volumes differ from country to country.

Occurrence, fate and antibiotic resistance of fluoroquinolone antibacterials in hospital wastewaters in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Occurrence and behavior of fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents (FQs) were investigated in hospital wastewaters in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hospital wastewater in Hanoi is usually not treated and this untreated wastewater is directly discharged into one of the wastewater channels of the city and eventually reaches the ambient aquatic environment. The concentrations of the FQs, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NOR) in six hospital wastewaters ranged from 1.

Defining the chronic impacts of atenolol on embryo-larval development and reproduction in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).

Atenolol is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist ('beta-blocker') widely used for the treatment of angina, glaucoma, high blood pressure and other related conditions. Since atenolol is not appreciably metabolized in humans, the parent compound is the predominant excretory product, and has been detected in sewage effluent discharges and surface waters. Consequently, atenolol has been chosen as a reference pharmaceutical for a European Union-funded research consortium, known as ERAPharm (http://www.

An overview of pharmaceuticals and personal care products contamination along the river Somes watershed, Romania.

The mass flows of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were studied in the aqueous compartment of the river Somes in Romania. PPCPs were measured in wastewater treatment effluents and in the receiving river water. The analytical method for the determination of PPCPs in river water was based on solid phase extraction and GC-ITMS.

Extraction and determination of sulfonamides, macrolides, and trimethoprim in sewage sludge.

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was optimized and validated for the determination of sulfonamide and macrolide antimicrobials and trimethoprim in sewage sludge samples. A mixture of water/methanol (50:50, v/v) was found as the most efficient extraction solvent. A temperature of 100 degrees C and a pressure of 100 bar were chosen for extraction.