Determination of 4-nonylphenols in sediments from a eutrophic marine area

The aim of this work was to develop a simple and efficient analytical method for the determination of 4-nonylphenols (4-NPs) in marine sediments. Nonylphenols are a group of xenobiotics of great environmental concern owing to their endocrine-disrupting properties; they are recognised as priority pollutants by the Water Framework Directive. The analytical procedure involves ultrasonic extraction followed by two-step solid phase extraction clean-up and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, without a derivatisation step. The method was validated and demonstrated to be suitable for marine sediments rich in organic matter from a eutrophic, contaminated area; 4-NP recovery rates were above 90%. This method was applied to the analysis of 4-NPs in recent sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic Sea). Sediments from this area are moderately contaminated with 4-NPs (0–1 cm layer: 1–42 ng/g d.w.; 1–5 cm layer: 2–61 ng/g d.w.).