Organophosphate esters in inert landfill soil: A case study.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) used as flame retardants and plasticizers are additives in building and construction materials, decorations, furniture, electronic equipment, among other applications. The presence of materials containing these substances in construction and demolition waste (CDW) from weak waste management practices can result in environmental contamination. In this study, OPEs' presence in soil samples collected from a CDW landfill in Brazil was evaluated.

A modified QuEChERS method for determination of organophosphate esters in milk by GC-MS.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are substances that have been detected in several matrices due to their use as flame retardants and plasticizers. Human exposure to OPEs can cause endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive disturbance. Ingestion of contaminated food can be a significant route of exposure to OPEs.

Non-targeted Gas Chromatography Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry qualitative and quantitative analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in indoor dust using the Regions of Interest Multivariate Curve Resolution chemometrics procedure.

In this study, non-targeted gas chromatography-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (GC-Orbitrap-MS) analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in indoor environmental dust samples is proposed. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) provides massive amounts of information-rich mass data which presents storage and processing challenges. Thus, a combination of the regions of interest (ROI) data filtering and mass compression method, together with the multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) data resolution method (which is called the ROIMCR procedure), is applied to solve huge data analysis challenges.

Occurrence of polar organic compounds in atmospheric particulate matter: a system review in South America.

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the existing air pollutants, which can cause damages to human health, public property, and the environment. The chemical composition of this pollutant greatly varies, mainly its organic fraction. Thus, our objective was to carry out a literature review based on articles, considering studies conducted in South America, whose authors address the characterization of the polar organic fraction of PM.

Integration of ozone, UV/HO and GAC in a multi-barrier treatment for secondary effluent polishing: Reuse parameters and micropollutants removal.

Current studies tend to combine different advanced treatment technologies to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The objective of this work was to assess the combination of ozonation and UV/HO with activated carbon adsorption for the removal of effluent quality parameters and micropollutants from secondary effluent samples. The experiments were carried out using the following configurations: O + GAC + O (1); O + GAC + UV/HO (2); UV/HO + GAC + O (3); UV/HO + GAC + UV/HO (4).

New benzotriazoles generated during textile dyeing process: Synthesis, hazard, water occurrence and aquatic risk assessment.

Phenylbenzotriazoles (PBTA) can be generated unintentionally during textile dyeing factories by reduction of dinitrophenylazo dyes and their subsequent chlorination in disinfection process. Eight non-chlorinated PBTAs (non-Cl PBTA) and their related chlorinated PBTAs have been found in rivers and presented mutagenic activity. No data on their aquatic toxicity are available.

Occurrence and risk assessment of organophosphate esters in urban rivers from Piracicaba watershed (Brazil).

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are substances globally used as flame retardants and plasticizers that have been detected in all environmental compartments. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and sources of ten OPEs in the Piracicaba River Basin (Brazil). Twelve sampling sites were selected in five rivers with different pollution sources; six sampling campaigns were performed encompassing dry and wet seasons.

Organophosphate esters by GC-MS: An optimized method for aquatic risk assessment.

Organophosphate esters used as flame retardants and plasticizers are ubiquitous contaminants in surface waters. Many studies indicate that these compounds are neurotoxicants, endocrine disruptors, and may affect reproduction and development of aquatic organisms. Thus, analytical methods that allow accurate quantification of these contaminants at environmentally relevant concentrations are desirable for risk assessment studies.

Occurrence of flame retardants in landfills: A case study in Brazil.

Huge amounts of waste containing flame retardants reach landfills annually, which can result in environmental contamination if this type of solid residues is not properly managed. This study presents data concerning the occurrence of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil, dust, leachate and well water samples from a landfill in Brazil. Samples were collected in different points of the landfill site, including offices, concierge, electronic waste storage area, bulk waste storage area, a place where a recycling cooperative operates, leachate pound and wells.

Occurrence and human exposure to brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants via indoor dust in a Brazilian city.

Indoor dust is considered an important human exposure route to flame retardants (FRs), which has arised concern due the toxic properties of some of these substances. In this study, ten organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and four new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were determined in indoor dust from different places in Araraquara-SP (Brazil). The sampled places included houses, apartments, offices, primary schools and cars.

Sorption and desorption of organophosphate esters with different hydrophobicity by soils.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are ubiquitous contaminants with potentially hazardous effects on both the environment and human health. Knowledge about the soil sorption-desorption process of organic chemicals is important in order to understand their fate, mobility, and bioavailability, enabling an estimation to be made of possible risks to the environment and biota. The aim of this study was to use the batch equilibrium technique to evaluate the sorption-desorption behavior of seven OPEs (TCEP, TCPP, TBEP, TDCP, TBP, TPhP, and EHDP) in soils with distinctive characteristics (two unamended soils and a soil amended with sewage sludge).

Role of oxygen and DOM in sunlight induced photodegradation of organophosphorous flame retardants in river water.

The wide use of organophosphorous flame retardants (OPFR) and plasticizers causes a continuous release of large quantities into natural waters. One of the main contributors to micropollutants depletion in surface water is sunlight induced phototransformations. This study aims to elucidate whether alkyl, chloroalkyl and aryl organophosphorus flame retardants undergo phototransformations in river water.

Occurrence and sources of brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants in dust from different indoor environments in Barcelona, Spain.

In this study, the simultaneous presence of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), nine new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and ten organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) was investigated in dust samples collected from different indoor environments (homes, schools, theatres, a university and a Research Institute) in Barcelona, Spain. OPFRs were detected at the highest concentrations followed by PBDEs. ∑OPFRs ranged from 2053 to 72,090ngg(-1) and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was the most abundant compound.

Can activated sludge treatments and advanced oxidation processes remove organophosphorus flame retardants?

This study aims to determine the occurrence of 10 OPFRs (including chlorinated, nonchlorinated alkyl and aryl compounds) in influent, effluent wastewaters and partitioning into sludge of 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Catalonia (Spain). All target OPFRs were detected in the WWTPs influents, and the total concentration ranged from 3.67 µg L(-1) to 150 µg L(-1).

Development and validation of a multiresidue method for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, new brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants in sediment, sludge and dust.

This study presents a multiresidue method for simultaneous extraction, clean-up and analysis of priority and emerging flame retardants in sediment, sewage sludge and dust. Studied compounds included eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers congeners, nine new brominated flame retardants and ten organophosphorus flame retardants. The analytical method was based on ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethyl acetate/cyclohexane (5:2, v/v), clean-up with Florisil cartridges and analysis by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS/MS).

Priority and emerging flame retardants in rivers: occurrence in water and sediment, Daphnia magna toxicity and risk assessment.

The occurrence, partitioning and risk of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), nine new brominated (NBFRs) and ten organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) were evaluated in three Spanish rivers suffering different anthropogenic pressures (Nalón, Arga and Besòs). OPFRs were ubiquitous contaminants in water (ΣOPFRs ranging from 0.0076 to 7.

Occurrence and risk assessment of organophosphorus and brominated flame retardants in the River Aire (UK).

This study presents the occurrence and risk of PBDEs, new brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants along a river affected by urban and industrial pressures (River Aire, UK). Tris(2-choroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris[2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate (TDCP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) were detected in all samples, with TCPP present at the highest concentrations, ranging from 113 to 26,050 ng L⁻¹. BDE-209 was detected in most of the sampled sites, ranging from 17 to 295 ng L⁻¹, while hexabromobenzene (HBB) and pentabromoethyl benzene (PBEB) were seldom detected.

Assessment of flame retardants in river water using a ceramic dosimeter passive sampler.

Novel brominated (BFRs) and organophosphorus (OPFRs) flame retardants were monitored in river water using the ceramic dosimeter passive sampling device with HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) as sorbent. Laboratory calibrations were performed to determine sampling rates for each compound using the Archie's law exponent. The passive sampling device was used to determine the presence of 6 BFRs in the River Aire (United Kingdom), selected according to their ubiquitous presence in the River Aire.

Influence of sugarcane burning on indoor/outdoor PAH air pollution in Brazil.

This work presents the influence of sugarcane burning on PAH levels and their profiles at a residence located in Araraquara (SP, Brazil), a city surrounded by sugarcane plantations. The average concentrations of total PAHs (ΣPAHs) associated with atmospheric particulate matter were higher during the burning period (ΣPAHs 22.9 ng m(-3)) than in the non-burning period (ΣPAH 2.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry comprehensive analysis of organophosphorus, brominated flame retardants, by-products and formulation intermediates in water.

A multiresidue method based on gas chromatography coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometry was developed to determine organophosphorus flame retardants, polybromodiphenyl ethers (BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209), new brominated flame retardants, bromophenols, bromoanilines, bromotoluenes and bromoanisoles in water. Two ionization techniques (electron ionization--EI, and electron capture negative ionization--ECNI) and two acquisition modes (selected ion monitoring--SIM, and selected reaction monitoring--SRM) were compared as regards to mass spectral characterization, sensitivity and quantification capabilities. The highest sensitivity, at expenses of identification capacity, was obtained by GC-ECNI-MS/SIM for most of the compounds analyzed, mainly for PBDEs and decabromodiphenyl ethane while GC-EI-MS/MS in SRM was the most selective technique and permitted the identification of target compounds at the pg level, and identification capabilities increased when real samples were analyzed.