PAH and PCB determination of the concentration gradient in moss Pleurozium schreberi near a highway,and seasonal variability at the background reference site

Moss (Pleurozium schreberi) was investigated as biomonitor of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Samples were collected at a distance of 10, 50 and 100 m from a highway and were seasonally collected in a forest stand near a regional background air pollution station situated approximately 30 km from the highway. The samples from the background area were dried using two different techniques in parallel, air-drying and freeze-drying. Simultaneous pressurised liquid extraction of PAHs and PCBs was performed, followed by purification using gel permeation chromatography of the crude extract. The concentration of the 15 most important Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PAHs was determined by gas chromatography coupled with ion-trap mass spectrometry with a selected ion storage acquisition programme, and the PCB concentrations were determined using a mass spectrometer operated in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) mode. Acceptable recoveries and quality parameters for PAHs and PCBs were achieved with the use of pressurised liquid extraction followed by gel permeation chromatography. The detection limit was <0.76 ng g^?1 for PAHs and <0.04 ng g^?1 for PCBs. Possible contamination of the moss samples by 3-ring PAHs and PCBs in the atmosphere was found during air drying. Increased PAH and PCB concentrations caused by car engine exhausts and by asphalt and oil evaporation were found near the highway. Generally, the PAH and PCB concentrations in moss decreased exponentially with distance from the highway. The organic compound concentrations close to the background station showed seasonal fluctuations corresponding to the fluctuations in the local air temperature and particle concentration.     

气相色谱-串联质谱法测定土壤中多环芳烃和多氯联苯

研究土壤中持久性有机污染物的含量可以为区域环境治理和来源解析提供基础数据。本文通过固相萃取结合气相色谱-串联质谱法建立了16种多环芳烃和15种多氯联苯的检测方法,并优化了固相萃取净化方法、色谱条件以及质谱碰撞能量。结果表明16种多环芳烃和15种多氯联苯的标准曲线线性关系良好,方法线性相关系数r~20.999,方法的检出限为0.1~2.5μg·kg~(-1),16种多环芳烃的平均加标回收率范围为62.5%~113.5%,相对标准偏差在2.3%~8.2%之间,15种多氯联苯的平均加标回收率范围为62.6%~91.4%,相对标准偏差在5.2%~7.8%之间。方法的准确度和精密度较高,通过对实际样品的测定,说明该方法具有较低的检出限及较强的抗干扰能力,能满足土壤中多环芳烃和多氯联苯的检测要求。     

Soil contamination by some organic micropollutants related to sewage sludge spreading

The aim of the present publication is to give some information on soil contamination by 4 different micropollutant classes due to sewage sludge spreading. The soil under research shows an accumulation of light molecular weight PAHs and PCBs, DEHP and 4-NP just after spreading, but one month later the concentration of these micropollutant groups fall to the concentration detected just before the sludge spreading. As far as the soil concentration is concerned, only PAHs and PCBs are precipitation dependent. Some test plots, enriched during 10 years with fertilisers, pig-dung or sewage sludges show only an increase of the PAH concentrations of the plots amended with sludges. In the same way, the sewage sludge is chiefly responsible for the increase of PCBs in the soils, but pig-dung seems to contain quantities of these micropollutants which have to be taken into consideration.     

Soil Contamination by some Organic Micropollutants Related to Sewage Sludge Spreading

Abstract

The aim of the present publication is to give some information on soil contamination by 4 different micropollutant classes due to sewage sludge spreading.

The soil under reserch shown an accumulation of light molecular weight PAHs and PCBs, DEHP and 4-NP just after spreading, but one month later the con-centration of these micropollutant groups fall to the concentration detected just before the sludge spreding.

As far as the soil concentration is concerned, only PAHs and PCBs are precipitation dependent.

Some test plots, enriched during 10 years with fertilisers, pig-dung or sewage sludges show only an increse of the PAH concentrations of the plots amended with sludges. In the same way, the sewage sludge is chiefly responsible for the increase of PCBs in the soils, but pig-dung seems to contain quantities of these micropollutants which have to be taken into consideration.     

Rapid aryl hydrocarbon receptor based polymerase chain reaction screening assay for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans in soil and sediment

A method for the estimation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furan (PCCD/F) toxicity equivalent quotient (TEQ) of soil and sediment matrices is described. The method includes extraction, isolation of the PCDD/Fs from interfering compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and measurement of PCDD/F using the PROCEPT aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) receptor based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The values obtained using the PROCEPT assay correlate well with reference TEQ values generated from gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS), with a linearity coefficient (R(2)) of 0.94. Applied in a screening mode at 50pg/g PCDD/F TEQ, the PROCEPT assay yielded five false positive results (2.6%) and no false negative results for 196 analyses of spiked soils and environmental samples obtained from US EPA Superfund sites.     

Analysis of industrial contaminants in indoor air: Part 1. Volatile organic compounds,carbonyl compounds,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls

This article reviews recent literature on the analysis of industrial contaminants in indoor air in the framework of the REACH project, which is mainly intended to improve protection of human health and the environment from the risks of more than 34 millions of chemical substances. Industrial pollutants that can be found in indoor air may be of very different types and origin, belonging to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) categories. Several compounds have been classified into the priority organic pollutants (POPs) class such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDFs) and related polychlorinated compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many of these compounds are partially associated to the air gas phase, but also to the suspended particulate matter. Furthermore, settled dust can act as a concentrator for the less volatile pollutants and has become a matrix of great concern for indoors contamination. Main literature considered in this review are papers from the last 10 years reporting analytical developments and applications regarding VOCs, aldehydes and other carbonyls, PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PAHs in the indoor environment. Sample collection and pretreatment, analyte extraction, clean-up procedures, determination techniques, performance results, as well as compound concentrations in indoor samples, are summarized and discussed. Emergent contaminants and pesticides related to the industrial development that can be found in indoor air are reviewed in a second part in this volume.     

Microwave assisted extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from atmospheric particulate samples

For several years, microwave assisted extraction (MAE) was applied to extract organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, etc., from soils, sediments and standard reference materials. Very few authors applied this methodology for the extraction of PAHs from atmospheric particulate matter. In the present study, MAE of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with hexane/acetone (1:1) from real atmospheric particulate samples was investigated and the effect of microwave energy and irradiation time studied. The yields of extracted compounds obtained by microwave irradiation were compared with those obtained using traditional Soxhlet extraction. MAE was evaluated using spiked real atmospheric particulate samples and two standard reference materials. Analytical determinations of PAHs were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection. The best recoveries were achieved with a microwave energy of 400 W and an irradiation time of 20 min.     

Improved accuracy in the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air using 24 h sampling on a mixed bed followed by thermal desorption capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new sampling method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air is described. The method is based on active sampling on sorption tubes consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam, PDMS particles and a TENAX TA bed. After sampling, the solutes are quantitatively recovered by thermal desorption and analysed by capillary GC-MS. The new sampling method has been compared to the classical method using high-volume sampling on a glass fiber filter followed by polyurethane foam for 24h sampling of ambient air. Volumes enriched were 144 l on the mixed bed and 1296 m3 with the classical method. The concentrations measured using the new method were significantly higher that the values obtained using the classical method, i.e. a factor 1.2-3 for the high molecular weight PAHs and up to 35 times for naphthalene and 23 times for acenaphthene. The total toxicity equivalence value (TEQ) for PAHs was ca. two times higher compared to the conventional method, illustrating that the concentrations of PAHs in ambient air have been underestimated until now. Some figures of merit (mean value for 17 PAHs) of the method are repeatability 7.4%, detection limit 13 pg/m3, accuracy 105.6% and linearity 0.996. The method also opens interesting perspectives for the determination of other semi-volatile persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in air as illustrated with the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at a workplace during removal of transformer oil.     

Standard reference materials (SRMs) for determination of organic contaminants in environmental samples

For the past 25 years the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed certified reference materials (CRMs), known as standard reference materials (SRMs), for determination of organic contaminants in environmental matrices. Assignment of certified concentrations has usually been based on combining results from two or more independent analytical methods. The first-generation environmental-matrix SRMs were issued with certified concentrations for a limited number (5 to 10) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Improvements in the analytical certification approach significantly expanded the number and classes of contaminants determined. Environmental-matrix SRMs currently available include air and diesel particulate matter, coal tar, marine and river sediment, mussel tissue, fish oil and tissue, and human serum, with concentrations typically assigned for 50 to 90 organic contaminants, for example PAHs, nitro-substituted PAHs, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Simultaneous extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in agricultural soils by pressurized liquid extraction and determination by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method based on pressurized liquid extraction has been validated for the simultaneous extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from agricultural soil samples. Effective extraction was carried out in less than 17 min for all the studied compounds, and good recoveries were obtained for PAHs and PCBs, ranging from 70% to 112%, when blank samples were spiked at 2.5 μg kg⁻¹, except for naphthalene with recoveries close to 40%. The separation and determination were performed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using a triple quadrupole mass analyzer. The target compounds were detected by electron impact with selected reaction monitoring, and mass spectrometric conditions were optimized in order to increase selectivity and sensitivity. The developed method was validated, and matrix-matched calibration was used for quantification purposes. Repeatability and interday precision ranged from 0.9% to 16.8% and from 1.6% to 22.3%, respectively. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.07 to 2.50 μg kg⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of agricultural soil samples collected from Almeria (Spain), and PAHs and PCBs were detected in some samples at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 210 μg kg⁻¹.     

一种新的有机污染物采样装置

介绍了一种由类脂物和半透膜组成的采样装置,该装置可模拟生物监测可被生物订的有机污染物。将其用于监测大气、水体、沉积物中的多氯联苯（ＰＣＢｓ）、有机氯农药（ＯＣＰ）和多环芳烃（ＰＡＨｓ）时,结果满意。     

气相色谱-离子阱质谱法测定海洋贝类中多残留有机氯农药、多氯联苯和多环芳烃

本研究建立了凝胶渗透色谱和铝硅胶柱前处理,气相色谱-离子阱质谱法测定海洋贝类体内20种有机氯农药、28种多氯联苯和16种多环芳烃的多残留分析方法。通过对凝胶渗透色谱的组分收集时间和铝硅胶柱的正戊烷淋洗体积的实验条件优化,实现了样品索氏提取液的凝胶渗透色谱初步净化、铝硅胶柱色谱的组分分离和进一步去除干扰物质。结果表明,多氯联苯、有机氯农药和多环芳烃各化合物的方法检出限分别为0.01~0.14,0.02~0.17和0.52~0.81ng/g(湿重),样品的加标回收率和相对标准偏差分别为:多氯联苯84.1%~120.2%、5.6%~15.9%;多环芳烃62.3%~123.1%、8.7%~20.5%;有机氯农药77.3%~127.5%、3.1%~18.7%。本方法降低了样品的前处理成本,缩短了样品处理时间,可应用于海洋贝类体内持久性有机污染物的实际监测。     

Trace-level analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls,organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human plasma or serum by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A method to determine 8 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 23 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was described using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) of a small amount of plasma or serum sample and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The appropriate selection of the extraction solvent and dispersing solvent contributes to a high extraction yield and a clean extract. To verify the developed method, the interference, linearity of the calibration curve, detection limit, precision and accuracy were evaluated. The calibration curves were linear by 2–3 orders of magnitude with correlation coefficients above 0.997 in all cases. The LODs of PCBs, OCPs and PAHs were measured in the ranges of 0.0006–0.0029, 0.001–0.029 and 0.0002–0.012 ng/mL. The intraday precision achieved by this method was 2.19–10.3% (PCBs), 1.65–14.3% (OCPs) and 0.91–12.8% (PAHs), and the intraday accuracy 1.56–7.37% (PCBs), 2.34–19.6% (OCPs) and 1.49–15.7% (PAHs). The advantage of this method is that the analysis of PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs can be performed in a single chromatographic run, and the low detection limit enables monitoring of target substances in low exposure general public samples, and the analysis procedure is relatively simple and fast.     

MultiSimplex optimisation of the solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,polychlorinated biphenyls and phthalates from water samples

Solid-phase microextraction coupled to GC-MS was optimised for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water samples. A 30-microm polydimethylsiloxane fiber was immersed in a 30-ml water sample that contained the analytes of interest (PAHs, PCBs and phthalate esters) and the variables studied were extraction time (15-60 min), extraction temperature (30-90 degrees C), desorption time (1-5 min), desorption temperature (220-270 degrees C) and the addition of sodium chloride (0-9 g). The MultiSimplex programme based on the simplex algorithm was used to establish the optimal conditions. MultiSimplex allowed the simultaneous study of the variables mentioned above and considered the answers of all types of compounds studied in this work. Thus, the optimal conditions obtained allowed the simultaneous determination of PAHs, phthalate esters and PCBs. Furthermore, the accuracy and repeatability of the developed method were calculated from water samples spiked at known concentrations of the analytes. Finally, the optimised method was used to analyse water samples from different sampling points of the Urdaibai and Nerbioi-Ibaizabal estuaries (Biscay, Spain).     

Determination of semi-volatile priority pollutants in landfill leachates and sediments using microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction

The present work was focused on the development of a simple method aimed at the determination of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in landfill leachates and sediments by adapting a domestic microwave oven to perform microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (MA-HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatographic separation and tandem mass spectrometric detection. Good linearity was observed within the concentration range studied; detection limits ranged from 0.1 ng/l to 7 ng/l for PCBs and from 5 ng/l to 926 ng/l for PAHs. Concerning precision, the relative standard deviations obtained were, on average for the leachate and sediment samples analysed, 18% for PCBs and 20% for PAHs. Average recovery values were 37% and 76% for PCBs, and 58% and 48% for PAHs, respectively, for the leachate and reference sediment studied. The method allows the determination of PAHs and PCBs in landfill leachates and sediments, avoiding clean-up steps and the consumption of organic solvents.     

A field-scale demonstration of a novel bioremediation process for MGP sites

The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) has developed and demonstrated an integrated chemical/biological treatment (CBT) process to efficiently remediate soils and sludges contaminated with hazardous compounds such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile hydrocarbons (e.g., BTEX), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Bench-scale studies as well as the field-scale tests show that the CBT process is effective in significantly enhancing the rate as well as the extent of degradation of these contaminants.

In this paper, the results of bench-scale tests conducted with a variety of PAHs and a set of field-scale tests conducted with soils from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site (now a Superfund site) that contained coal-tar associated PAHs. The field tests results show that the chemically enhanced bioremediation using the CBT process results in up to 90% improvement over conventional bioremediation for total PAHs (2-6 ring compounds) degradation and over 100% improvement over conventional bioremediation for carcinogenic PAHs (4-6 ring compounds) degradation. In this paper, the preliminary results of the second field test being conducted using the contaminated soils from another MGP site are discussed.

     

Utilisation of certified reference materials in monitoring common environmental pollutants (PAHs, Nitro-PAHs, PCBs)

Summary Monitoring of the concentration levels of certain environmental organic pollutants which pose potential health hazards is examined. The use of reference materials in the quantitative measurement of common pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds, nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is reviewed within the context of achieving optimum precision sand accuracy of the measurements.

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Verwendung zertifizierter Referenzmaterialien bei der Messung von Umweltverunreinigungen (PAHs, Nitro-PAHs, PCBs)

     

改进QuEChERS-气相色谱-质谱法快速分析测定农用土壤中多环芳烃

建立农用土壤中16种多环芳烃的改进QuEChERS快速提取净化方法及气相色谱-质谱检测方法,并通过对西安市周边农用土壤样品的分析,调查土壤中多环芳烃的污染情况.土壤样品用KOH饱和的甲醇碱化处理后,用丙酮-正已烷(1+1)为提取溶剂,涡旋混匀后超声提取,提取液按改进QuEChERS方法加入无水MgSO4、硅胶及正丙基乙二胺(PSA)进行净化,检测时选用DB -5 MS(30m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)色谱柱分离,EI电离源及离子监测模式检测,16种多环芳烃的测定低限0.7～3.2μg/kg,加标回收率79.8％ ～ 109.6％,相对标准偏差均低于9.4％.检测的农用土壤样品中均检出有不同程度的多环芳烃残留,约16.7％的土壤样品为轻度污染.     

Determining PAHs and PCBs in aqueous samples: finding and evaluating sources of error

This work describes the problems that occur during routine multi-step determinations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which can be present at trace levels in water, and identifies sources of analyte losses at particular steps during the analytical procedure. PAH and PCB adsorption onto the walls of the container ranged from 0 to 70%. PAH and PCB recoveries of >70% were achieved during the LLE and SPE extraction steps. During the process of enriching the dichloromethane extract with PAHs and PCBs, based on the gentle evaporation of solvent, losses were <24% and <19%, respectively. Model experiments show that neither isolation of PAHs and PCBs (performed using either LLE or SPE) nor extract enrichment reduce the reliability of PAH and PCB determination. The steps that lead to the greatest loss of analyte are the ones that involve sampling, transport and storage of the water samples.     

Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and sediments from Eastern Romania

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as DDT and analogues, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were measured in surface soils and sediments from Eastern Romania. Thirty-nine soil samples from the forested zone, eight soil samples from a municipal waste-disposal site, and 10 sediment samples from the Bahlui River along the Iassy city were analysed using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detection or mass spectrometry. The low mean concentrations of OCPs (11–31 and 22–84?ng?g^?1 for HCHs and DDTs, respectively) and PCBs (8–43?ng?g^?1) in soil samples from the forested zone suggest that contamination at most of these sites occurred predominantly through atmospheric transport from zones where these compounds were used and subsequently through atmospheric deposition. Contrarily, soil samples collected in the vicinity of a waste-disposal site near Iassy contained higher mean levels of PCBs (278?ng?g^?1, range 34–1132?ng?g^?1) than OCPs (6 and 101?ng?g^?1 of soil for HCHs and DDTs, respectively). The sediment samples collected along the Bahlui river throughout the Iassy city revealed higher mean levels of PCBs (59?ng?g^?1, range 24–158?ng?g^?1) compared with OCP levels (2 and 37?ng?g^?1 of soil for HCHs and DDTs, respectively). Furthermore, PCB profiles and concentrations in the sediment samples varied considerably along the river due to a wide variety of sources, such as different industries and waste sites. Although their sources are difficult to evaluate, the presence of POPs at most sites (especially at the waste-disposal site) may constitute a potential health hazard.