Comprehensive analytical method for semi-volatile organic compounds in water samples by combination of disk-type solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry database system.

A disk-type solid-phase extraction method for simultaneous extraction of a wide range of semi-volatile organic compounds in water samples was developed. The developed method could extract 186 out of 202 model compounds from spiked environmental samples (0.1 μg/L) with 94% average recovery (50-111%).

Screening analysis of hundreds of sediment pollutants and evaluation of their effects on benthic organisms in Dokai Bay, Japan.

Dokai Bay in Kitakyushu, Japan, is polluted with complex mixtures of micro-pollutants originating from the extensive industry and urbanization. In order to evaluate effects of these micro-pollutants on benthic organisms in this almost completely enclosed bay, we screened for the occurrence of approximately 900 organic chemicals and heavy metals, and in addition quantified the density and biomass of benthic animals. For the chemical analysis, we used a newly developed comprehensive analytical method using an automated identification and quantification system with a GC-MS database.

[Application of automated identification and quantification system with a database (AIQS-DB) to screen organic pollutants in surface waters from Yellow River and Yangtze River].

Approximately 1 000 chemicals were screened in surface waters from downstreams of Yellow River and Yangtze River using GC-MS coupled with Automated Identification and Quantification System with a Database (AIQS-DB). 95 pollutants were detected in water samples from Yellow River in Shandong Province and 121 in those from Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province. The pollutants involved n-alkanes, PAHs, phenols, nitro compounds, phthalates esters (PAEs), pesticides and pharmaceuticals, etc.