A vortex-assisted MSPD method for the extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from shrimp with determination by GC-MS/MS.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds with two or more condensed aromatic rings, formed from incomplete organic matter combustion. PAHs pose potential health risks due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, accumulating in edible tissues of aquatic organisms, such as shrimp, which is extensively produced in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil) and it is the most consumed seafood globally. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize and validate an analytical method for extracting 16 priority PAHs from shrimp samples using Vortex-Assisted Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (VA-MSPD) with determination by Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Acrylamide, hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural in ready-to-eat foods consumed by child population: Presence, risk assessment and future perspectives.

Food intake contributes to adequate growth and neurodevelopment of children. Ready-to-eat foods, frequently consumed by this population, are sources of acrylamide (AA), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FF). In this sense, a review of the AA, HMF, and FF presence in ready-to-eat foods was evaluated through a systematic search to infer the risk of exposure in the child population.

The use of integrative tools and multiple models for aquatic environmental quality assessment: a case study of the Mirim Lagoon, Southern Brazil.

This study performed toxicity assays with microalgae, microcrustaceans, and fish as well as evaluated biochemical and behavioral biomarkers in fish and microcrustaceans to assess the quality of the surface water of Mirim Lagoon, which belongs to one of the largest hydrographic basins in the world, located in southern Brazil. Three distinct sampling periods were chosen (January, March, and June 2022) based on the rice plantation dynamics which is the main activity surrounding the lagoon. In January, the plantation is irrigated; in March, the water is drained into the Mirim Lagoon, and July is the off-season.

Effects of the Pesticide Carbofuran on Two Species of Chlorophyceae (Desmodesmus communis and Pseudopediastrum boryanum) and Their Pesticide Bioremediation Ability.

Carbofuran is one of the most toxic broad-spectrum pesticides. We evaluated the effects of carbofuran on two species of microalgae, Pseudopediastrum boryanum and Desmodesmus communis, through measurements of cell viability, biomass, chlorophyll content, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ability of these algae to remove carbofuran dissolved in the media was also determined.

Distribution in marine fish and EDI estimation of contaminants of emerging concern by vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion and HPLC-MS/MS.

Due to their persistence or continuous discharge, toxic substances are present in the aquatic environment, and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food web, generating a significant ecological risk and a threat to human health. The present study assess the occurrence and tissue (muscle, liver, stomach and gills) distribution of 59 anthropogenic contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in marine fish from Brazil. A simpler and faster analytical methodology based on vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (VA-MSPD) and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in honey from stingless bees (Meliponinae) in southern Brazil.

This study evaluated sixteen Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) considered priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 13 honey samples from seven Meliponinae species, collected in native forests and industrial areas in southern Brazil. All samples contained at least one PAH. ∑PAHs ranged from 1.

Updated knowledge, partitioning and ecological risk of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in global aquatic environments.

Over the last few decades, the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environments has generated increasing public concern. In this review, data on the presence of PPCPs in environmental compartments from the past few years (2014-2022) are summarized by carrying out a critical survey of the partitioning among water, sediment, and aquatic organisms. From the available articles on PPCP occurrence in the environment, in Web of Science and Scopus databases, 185 articles were evaluated.

Vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion: An eco-friendly alternative for the determination of halogens in edible seaweed.

Edible seaweed has been widely consumed around the world through oriental cuisine and it is important to monitor the levels of some elements, especially halogens. This study proposes, for the first time, the development of an analytical method using the vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (VA-MSPD) combined with alkaline extraction of halogens (F, Cl, Br, and I) in edible seaweed for further determination by ion chromatography. The proposed method was evaluated using edible seaweed of the Nori (Porphyra spp.

Does pH variation influence the toxicity of organic contaminants in estuarine sediments? Effects of Irgarol on nematode assemblages.

Natural pH values in coastal waters vary largely among locations, ecosystems, and time periods; still, there is an ongoing acidification trend. In this scenario, more acidic pH values can alter bioavailability of organic contaminants, to organisms. Despite this, interactive effects between pH and chemical substances are not usually considered in Ecological Risk Assessment protocols.

Emerging contaminants in Brazilian aquatic environment: identifying targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk.

Although studies have shown the presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the Brazilian environment in recent decades, several biological effects on the aquatic ecosystem are unknown. Brazil is the fifth largest country in extension in the world, and its wide territory presents geographic regions with diverse demographic and economic characteristics. In order to identify targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk, available data from previous studies were examined to conduct environmental risk analysis and provide a ranking of CECs in Brazilian aquatic environment based on environmental concentration measured in the last 10 years.

Meliponinae and Apis mellifera honey in southern Brazil: Physicochemical characterization and determination of pesticides.

This study evaluated the physicochemical parameters and the occurrence of pesticides in multi-flower honey produced by six species of Meliponinae and Apis mellifera and collected in different seasons, floral species and sites in southern Brazil. Meliponinae honey were found to exhibit higher moisture, free acidity and sucrose concentration and lower concentration of reducing sugars than the standard of Apis mellifera honey in Brazil. Regarding Apis mellifera honey, reducing sugars and sucrose did not comply with the legislation.

Rapid and cost-effective multiresidue analysis of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and antifouling booster biocides in marine sediments using matrix solid phase dispersion.

Currently, there are many contaminants of concern that need to be accurately determined to help assess their potential environmental hazard. Despite their increasing interest, yet few environmental occurrence data exist, likely because they are present at low levels and in very complex matrices. Therefore, multiresidue analytical methods for their determination need to be highly sensitive, selective, and robust.

Effect of the UV filter, Benzophenone-3, on biomarkers of the yellow clam (Amarilladesma mactroides) under different pH conditions.

This work aimed to investigate effects of the ocean contamination by the sunscreen Benzophenone-3 (BP3) and acidification, caused by CO enrichment, to the yellow clam, Amarilladesma mactroides. Biochemical biomarkers were analyzed in tissues (gills, digestive gland, and mantle) of clams exposed to the environmental concentration of 1 μg/L BP3, at seawater natural pH (pH 8.1) and at lower pH (pH 7.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in a Brazilian wetland of international importance: Occurrence and environmental risk assessment.

Despite the fact that the occurrence of emerging contaminants in the environment has become frequent in recent decades, the seasonal dynamics of contaminants in different environmental compartments are little studied in protected areas influenced by effluent discharges. In this study, the seasonal and spatial occurrence of 33 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) was investigated in surface waters and sediments from Anil and Bacanga rivers (northeast of Brazil). The studied area is located within a Wetland of International Importance by Ramsar Convention (Amazon Estuary and its Mangroves).

Determination of trace elements in Sergio mirim: an evaluation of sample preparation methods and detection techniques.

In this work, some trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb) were determined for the first time in the crustacean Sergio mirim (Decapoda: Thalassinidea: Callianassidae) from Southern Coast (Rio Grande, RS) of Brazil. The trace element determination was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Different microwave radiation-based sample digestion methods were evaluated.

Removal of fluoride from fertilizer industry effluent using carbon nanotubes stabilized in chitosan sponge.

Adsorption of fluoride from fertilizer industry effluent using carbon nanotubes stabilized in chitosan sponge as adsorbent was evaluated. The effluent was produced in the washing of acid gases during the reaction in fertilizer production and all assays were performed using this hazardous material. Adsorbent characterization and ions interactions were elucidated from differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analyses, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy dispersive energy X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Impacts of the biocide chlorothalonil on biomarkers of oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and sperm quality in guppy Poecilia vivipara.

Chlorothalonil is a fungicide present in antifouling paints and other formulations used in agriculture, although studies have shown this chemical to be toxic to fish species. To clarify the deleterious effects of chlorothalonil for these non-target organisms, the present study evaluated the toxic effects of this biocide for the estuarine guppy Poecilia vivipara in terms of an acute mortality test (96 h) and the analysis of biomarkers of oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and sperm quality. The LC calculated for P.

Sand as a solid support in ultrasound-assisted MSPD: A simple, green and low-cost method for multiresidue pesticide determination in fruits and vegetables.

Sand was studied as a solid support in ultrasound-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (UA-MSPD) for the extraction of different pesticide classes, including organophosphates, carbamates, triazoles and pyrethroids from fruits and vegetables, with determination by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS. The performance of sand was compared with that of different types of classic solid supports and alternative natural materials from renewable sources. The best results were obtained using 0.

Fast and simple method of simultaneous preservative determination in different processed foods by QuEChERS and HPLC-UV: Method development, survey and estimate of daily intake.

A fast and simple method, which employs QuEChERS and HPLC-UV, was developed to determine preservatives in processed foods from different classes. The method showed correlation coefficients above 0.99, LOQs between 0.

An integrated approach in subtropical agro-ecosystems: Active biomonitoring, environmental contaminants, bioaccumulation, and multiple biomarkers in fish.

Aquatic contamination in agricultural areas is a global problem, characterized by a complex mixture of organic and inorganic pollutants whose effects on biota are unpredictable and poorly investigated. In this context, in the present study, the Neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus was confined in situ for 120 days in two sites with different levels of anthropic impact: 1) a fish hatchery station, within the State University of Londrina (reference site - REF) and 2) an agro-ecosystem area in one of the most productive regions of southern Brazil (experimental site - EXP). We evaluated multiple biomarkers at different levels of biological organization, such as biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes, oxidative damages, DNA damages and liver histopathology.

Optimization of a laccase-mediator system with natural redox-mediating compounds for pesticide removal.

This study proposed the optimization of a laccase-mediator system to reduce pesticide levels (bentazone, carbofuran, diuron, clomazone, tebuconazole, and pyraclostrobin) on aqueous medium. Firstly, the mediator concentration of 1 mM was established (average removal of 36%). After that, seven redox-mediating compounds, namely, 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and vanillin, were compared regarding their removal efficiency.

Sample as solid support in MSPD: A new possibility for determination of pharmaceuticals, personal care and degradation products in sewage sludge.

A method based on matrix-solid phase dispersion (MSPD), focused on the principles of green analytical chemistry, aimed at the use of alternative solid supports and less toxic solvents, was developed for the simultaneous determination of 19 pharmaceuticals, 4 personal care products (PPCPs) and 4 degradation products in sewage sludge samples. Higher recoveries were achieved when 2 g sample was macerated for 5 min in a glass mortar, transferred to a centrifuge tube, and 1 min vortex agitation with 5 mL methanol. The performance of the method was evaluated through linearity, recovery, precision (intra-day), method detection and quantification limits (MDL and MQL) and matrix effect.

Trace analysis of parabens preservatives in drinking water treatment sludge, treated, and mineral water samples.

Parabens have been widely used as antimicrobial agents, mainly in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Although they are known as safe preservatives, they also cause some harm to human health, which has been discussed lately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of nine parabens (including isomers) in mineral and drinking waters, besides in drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) samples with determination by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

The herbicide atrazine affects sperm quality and the expression of antioxidant and spermatogenesis genes in zebrafish testes.

The herbicide atrazine (ATZ) is used worldwide in the control of annual grasses and broad-leaved weeds. The present study evaluated sperm quality parameters in zebrafish Danio rerio after 11-day exposure to nominal ATZ concentrations of 2, 10, and 100 μg L. All ATZ concentrations caused a decrease in motility, mitochondrial functionality, and membrane integrity, as measured using conventional microscopy or fluorescence microscopy with specific probes.

Antifouling booster biocide extraction from marine sediments: a fast and simple method based on vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase extraction.

This paper reports the development of an analytical method employing vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for the extraction of diuron, Irgarol 1051, TCMTB (2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole), DCOIT (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-(2H)-isothiazolin-3-one), and dichlofluanid from sediment samples. Separation and determination were performed by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Important MSPD parameters, such as sample mass, mass of C18, and type and volume of extraction solvent, were investigated by response surface methodology.