A green approach for the automatic quantitative analysis of additives in plastic samples using in-tube extraction dynamic headspace sampling technique coupled to GC-MS/MS.

Background: Many of the chemicals frequently used as additives have been recognised as hazardous substances, and therefore their analysis is necessary to evaluate plastic contamination risk. Additives analysis in plastic samples is usually performed by methods involving high volumes of toxic solvents or having high detection limits. In this work, a novel, fast, solventless and reliable green method was developed for the automated analysis of plastic additives from plastic samples.

Source apportionment of PM and health risk assessment related in a narrow tropical valley. Study case: Metropolitan area of Aburrá Valley (Colombia).

This study investigates spatio-temporal variations of PM mass concentrations and associated metal(oid)s, δC carbon isotope ratios, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total organic carbon (TOC) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) concentrations over a half year period (from March 2017 to October 2017) in two residential areas of Medellín (MED-1 and MED-2) and Itagüí municipality (ITA-1 and ITA-2) at a tropical narrow valley (Aburrá Valley, Colombia), where few data are available. A total of 104 samples were analysed by using validated analytical methodologies, providing valuable data for PM chemical characterisation. Metal(oid)s concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid digestion, and PAHs concentrations were measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) after Pressurised Hot Water Extraction (PHWE) and Membrane Assisted Solvent Extraction (MASE).

Adsorption of pesticides and personal care products on pristine and weathered microplastics in the marine environment. Comparison between bio-based and conventional plastics.

The hydrophobicity of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) makes them adsorb on microplastics in the marine environment, affecting their distribution, persistence, or their transfer to the trophic chain. Fragrances and non-polar pesticides can be adsorbed by microplastics in the marine environment because of their physico-chemical characteristics. In this work, the adsorption of two pesticides (α-endosulfan and chlorpyrifos) and 6 musk fragrances (musk xylene, musk ketone, musk moskene, galaxolide, tonalide, and celestolide) on polyamide (PA6) (a petroleum based polymer) and on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) (biopolymer) in seawater was studied, considering also the effect of water temperature and plastic weathering.

Phthalates, organotin compounds and per-polyfluoroalkyl substances in semiconfined areas of the Spanish coast: Occurrence, sources and risk assessment.

In this work two sensitive areas of the Spanish coast located in the Atlantic (Ria de Vigo) and Mediterranean (Mar Menor lagoon) have been studied regarding their contamination by phthalates, organotin compounds and per-polyfluoroalkyl substances (seawater and sediments) in two different campaigns (spring and autumn in 2015). PFAS and OTCs were detected in seawater and sediments at low concentrations (few ng L or ng g), whereas PAEs were detected at levels two orders of magnitude higher, particularly in Mar Menor lagoon due to its semi-confined characteristics. However, PAEs and OTCs concentration in sediments were higher in Ría de Vigo than in Mar Menor lagoon as a consequence of the influence of the important urban nuclei and port in that area.

Inhalation bioaccessibility estimation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from atmospheric particulate matter (PM): Influence of PM composition and health risk assessment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) inhalation bioaccessibility was assessed in 65 atmospheric particulate matter samples (PM) collected at an Atlantic coastal European urban site. The proposed method consists on a physiologically based extraction (PBET) by using Gamble's solution followed by a vortex assisted liquid-liquid micro-extraction (VALLME) and quantification by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The use of a micro-extraction technique combined with FLD detection, provides a simple, fast, sensitive, accurate and low-cost methodology to PAHs quantification in bioaccessible fractions.

Identification of contaminants of emerging concern with potential environmental risk in Spanish continental shelf sediments.

The distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), alkylphenols, organotin compounds, phthalates, alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, current-use pesticides (CUPs) and personal care products (PCPs) was characterized in 29 surface sediments from two Spanish Iberian continental shelf areas (14 on the Atlantic and 15 on the Mediterranean coasts). Concretely, 115 organic contaminants were determined and a specific methodology was used for each contaminant group, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and traditional ones, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs). PAHs, alkylated PAHs, alkylphenols and phthalates were found in all samples, showing mean concentrations per group higher than 20 ng/g (16-4974 ng/g d.

Determination of atmospheric particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using subcritical water extraction coupled with membrane microextraction.

A green analytical methodology for the determination of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 related compounds in air particulate matter was developed and validated. The method was based on pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) followed by miniaturized membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) and programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry detection (PTV-GC-MS/MS). The parameters studied for PHWE were percentage of organic modifier (25% MeOH), temperature (200 °C) and static extraction time (5 min).

Polyethylene microplastics do not increase bioaccumulation or toxicity of nonylphenol and 4-MBC to marine zooplankton.

Global production of synthetic polymers, led by polyethylene (PE), rose steadily in the last decades, and marine ecosystems are considered as a global sink. Although PE is not biodegradable, in coastal areas it fragments into microplastics (MP) readily taken up by biota, and have been postulated as vectors of hydrophobic chemicals to marine organisms. We have tested this hypothesis using two organisms representative of the marine plankton, the holoplanktonic copepod Acartia clausi, and the meroplanktonic larva of the Paracentrotus lividus sea-urchin, and two model chemicals with similar hydrophobic properties, the 4-n-Nonylphenol and the 4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor used as plastic additive and UV filter in cosmetics.

Fast and sensitive determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in seawater.

In this work, a novel, fast, and sensitive method was developed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and PFOS precursor's determination in seawater. The proposed method consists in a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME) combined with liquid chromatography (LC) and LTQ-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap HRMS) determination. Several parameters affecting both the HPLC-LTQ Orbitrap HRMS determination and the VALLME were studied, with special attention to blank contamination problem.

Evergreen or deciduous trees for capturing PAHs from ambient air? A case study.

Tree canopies play a key role in the cycling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in terrestrial ecosystems, as leaves can capture PAHs from the air. In this study, accumulation of PAHs was compared in an evergreen species, P. pinaster, and in a deciduous species, Q.

Bioaccumulation of PCB-153 and effects on molecular biomarkers acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels.

In this study, PCB-153 bioaccumulation kinetics and concentration-response experiments were performed employing wild Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels. In addition, the activity of three enzymatic biomarkers: glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), were measured in the mussel gills. The experimental data fitted well to an asymptotic accumulation model with a high bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 9324 L kg(-1) and a very limited depuration capacity, described by a low excretion rate coefficient (Kd = 0.

Matrix solid phase dispersion method for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in moss.

In this work a matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction method, followed by programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination is proposed for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in moss samples. A devitalized, cultivated Sphagnum palustre L. moss clone obtained from the "Mossclone" EU-FP7 Project was used for the optimization and validation of the proposed method.

Proposal of a procedure for the analysis of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses.

A useful analytical procedure for the analysis of 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in moss samples using microwave assisted extraction and programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PTV-GC-MS/MS) determination is proposed. The state of art in PAHs analysis in mosses was reviewed. All the steps of the analysis were optimized regarding not only to the analytical parameters, but also the cost, the total time of analysis and the labour.

Emerging pollutants in sewage, surface and drinking water in Galicia (NW Spain).

A monitoring programme was carried out on wastewater, surface and drinking water on the NW area of Spain during the four seasons of a year period (November 2007-September 2008). This study covered a series of emerging pollutants of different classes, including pharmaceuticals, neutral and acidic organophosphorus flame retardant/plasticizers (OPs), triclosan, phenoxy-herbicides, insect repellents and UV filters. From the total set of 53 compounds, 19 were found in raw wastewater with median concentrations higher than 0.

A matrix solid-phase dispersion-gel permeation chromatography-programmed temperature vaporisation-GC-MS procedure for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mussel samples.

A simultaneous matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction-gel permeation chromatography cleanup with programmed temperature vaporisation GC-MS determination is proposed for the analysis of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mussel samples. The parameters affecting the extraction and elution efficiency were studied. Final conditions were: 0.