Determination of perfluoroalkyl acids in different tissues of graminaceous plants

A method for the determination of 12 perfluoroalkylacids (PFAA) in vegetal samples was proposed. The analytical procedure was developed to optimize the detention of short-chain PFAA (C<8) due to their higher potential to be translocated and bioaccumulated in plants than long-chain congeners. The method, based on ultrasonic extraction, clean-up and HPLC-MS/MS analysis, determined PFAA in the different plant tissues allowing to study the PFAA distribution and partition in vegetal compartments. The performance of this analytical procedure was validated by analysing samples (root, stem and leaf) of reed grass. The validated method was then applied to graminaceous plants from an agricultural area impacted by a fluorochemical plant discharge (Northern Italy). The PFAA congeners were detected in the most of samples with PFAA concentrations in whole plant ranging from < LOD to 10.4 ng g-1 ww and with a greater rate of PFAA accumulation in corn cob than corn kernel. The proposed approach is particularly relevant in edible plant investigation because PFAA levels recorded in the comestible fractions provide information for human risk assessment due to vegetable consumption. Furthermore data on the remaining not edible parts, intended for breeding forage, are also useful for the assessment of the PFAA transfer in the breeding trophic chain

Assessment of Reed Grasses (Phragmites australis) Performance in PFAS Removal from Water: A Phytoremediation Pilot Plant Study

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have multiple emission sources, from industrial to domestic, and their high persistence and mobility help them to spread in all the networks of watercourses. Diffuse pollution of these compounds can be potentially mitigated by the application of green infrastructures, which are a pillar of the EU Green Deal. In this context, a phytoremediation pilot plant was realised and supplied by a contaminated well-located in Lonigo (Veneto Region, Italy) where surface and groundwaters were significantly impacted by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) discharges from a fluorochemical factory. The investigation involved the detection of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) inside the inlet and outlet waters of the phytoremediation pilot plant as well as in reed grasses grown into its main tank. The obtained results demonstrate that the pilot plant is able to reduce up to 50% of considered PFAAs in terms of mass flow without an evident dependence on physico-chemical characteristics of these contaminants. Moreover, PFAAs were found in the exposed reed grasses at concentrations up to 13 ng g&minus;1 ww. A positive correlation between PFAA concentration in plants and exposure time was also observed. In conclusion, this paper highlights the potential efficiency of phytodepuration in PFAS removal and recommends improving the knowledge about its application in constructed wetlands as a highly sustainable choice in wastewater remediation

The underlying challenges that arise when analysing short-chain chlorinated paraffins in environmental matrices

As short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are listed on several monitoring programs, validated methods are essential. However, their complexity and the lack of commercially available certified reference materials (RMs) hinder a proper validation of methods. Instead, one method is usually ‘validated’ by evaluating performances and results of spiked materials with that of one other method, which could easily lead to unreliable results. This study evaluated four analytical methods with different principles (i.e. comprehensive two dimensional GC coupled to a micro electron capture detector, developed for this study, chloride enhanced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization triple quadrupole time of flight MS (APCI-QToF-HRMS), GC coupled to an electron capture negative ion low resolution MS (GC–ECNI–LRMS) and carbon skeleton GC–MS), investigated the comparability in SCCP determination in spiked and naturally contaminated samples and determined SCCP amounts in candidate RMs for possible certification. The results cast doubt on the use of the most commonly applied method (i.e. GC–ECNI–LRMS), as well as using spiked materials for method validation. The APCI-QToF-HRMS method was found most promising as it achieves the required MS resolution (>21,000), is relatively fast and can detect also other CPs. The suitable identified SCCP levels in the candidate RMs and the agreement in results between the methods bring the first certification of a RM for SCCPs within reach.JRC.F.6-Reference Material

Full method validation for the determination of hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorobutadiene in fish tissue by GC–IDMS

This paper summarizes the validation strategy and the results obtained for the simultaneous determination of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) in fish tissue with a maximum of about 10 % m/m fat content using a GC-IDMS technique. The method is applicable for the determination of HCB and HCBD at trace levels in different kinds of fish tissue samples in accordance with the requirements of the EU Directive 2008/105/EC establishing Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) levels for biota in aquatic ecosystems (10 ng/g for HCB and 55 ng/g for HCBD). The method validation aimed to assess performance parameters such as linearity, limit of detection/limit of quantification (LOD/LOQ), trueness, selectivity, intermediate precision, repeatability, stability of the extracts and robustness. The validation experiments have been performed by using uncontaminated fish tissue. Trueness was evaluated by using a certified reference material (NIST SRM 1947) (where applicable) and by the standard addition method. Very good linear signal-concentration curves were obtained for both analytes over the whole range of calibration. The repeatability and the intermediate precision of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) and calculated at the EQS level, were estimated to be below 3 % both for HCB and HCBD. The limits of quantification were 3.7 ng/g for HCB and 15.7 ng/g for HCBD in the fish. An uncertainty budget for the measurement of both HCB and HCBD in fish at about the EQS levels, applying the described method, has been established in the order of 10 %. The analytical method and its performance characteristics take into account the requirements of EU Directive 2009/90/EC regarding the establishment of minimum performance criteria for the methods of analysis to be used in the water monitoring activity of the Water Framework Directive. Finally, the validated method was successfully tested on contaminated Silurus Glanis from Ebro River (Spain). The method will be used in the homogeneity, stability and interlaboratory comparison studies for the characterization of a new candidate certified reference material.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Scientific guidance on soil phototransformation products in groundwater – consideration, parameterisation and simulation in the exposure assessment of plant protection products

Abstract This Guidance Document gives recommendations how to consider transformation products from soil photolysis (‘phototransformation products’) when modelling the predicted environmental concentrations in groundwater. It describes possible parameterisations of the photolytic pathway (i.e. the photolytic half‐life and the corresponding reference irradiation) in a tiered approach using the FOCUS‐PELMO model. Following the recommendations of the EFSA guidance (2014), separate half‐lives can be derived for the surface processes (kfast) and the biodegradation in the soil matrix (kslow) from field dissipation studies by using biphasic models. From field dissipation studies evaluated with biphasic kinetics, the kfast value can be considered representative for the photolytic degradation on soil surface for non‐volatile substances. This value should be determined after a time‐step normalisation according to irradiance data for the location and period of the field trial, to a reference irradiance of 100 W m−2. In case irradiance values are not available in the study, these values can be derived from databases such as AGRI4CAST or NASA, freely available in the Internet

Groundwater contamination by fluorinated aromatics: Benzotrifluoride and its derivatives

Benzotrifluoride (BTF) and its derivatives (BTFs) were found in the groundwater of the Veneto region (Italy) as a result of industrial contamination dating back to the 1970s. In the first survey, BTF and 6 BTFs were identified, out of which 4-chloro-3nitrobenzotrifluoride (3N4CBTF) was the only quantified analyte (concentration up to 1 mg L-1) and was used to trace the contamination plume. A survey carried out in 2008-2009 after the development of more suitable analytical procedures based on GC-MS, allowed to determine 4 new derivatives in addition to BTF and BTFs previously identified, with the most abundant compounds found at concentrations up to 11.9 mu g L-1 and 7.2 mu g L-1 respectively. A systematic monitoring program for the evaluation of persistence and distribution of fluorinated compounds was carried out in 2013-2018, and new data about the BTF and BTFs occurrence and distribution were gathered. Additional BTFs were identified and high concentrations of individual BTFs were recorded near the contamination source (e.g. 20.3 mu g L-1 of 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzotrifluoride in 2017) as well as at large distance (e.g. 22.4 mu g L-1 of 3N4CBTF and 12.5 mu g L-1 of 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride in 2018).The results of BTFs monitoring campaigns carried out in 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 are compared and related to the historical data to assess the overall occurrence and distribution of BTFs contamination over a time range of similar to 40 years. Remarkably, BTFs were still found (2018) at mu g L-1 range. Spatial and temporal occurrence of BTF and BTFs in groundwater has been assessed for the first time. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Propriedades psicométricas do Questionário de Atitudes em relação à Prática da Actividade Físico-Sportiva Orientada para a Saúde em adolescentes peruanos

Las actitudes predicen el compromiso hacia la práctica de actividad físico-deportiva. Cuanto más se conozcan, mejor será la predicción de los posibles hábitos que las personas adoptarán. Por tanto, es necesario contar con un instrumento que evidencie validez y fiabilidad, especialmente para adolescentes, ya que la adolescencia constituye una etapa fundamental en la adopción de estilos de vida saludables. El objetivo de esteestudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas del Cuestionario de Actitudes hacia la Práctica de Actividad Físico-Deportiva Orientada a la Salud (CAAFS) en adolescentes peruanos. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal en el que participaron 1314 adolescentes de edades entre 13 y 19 años (15.59±1.05 años), conformados por 716 hombres y 598 mujeres provenientes de Lima y Callao, Perú. Mediante el software R versión 4.1.0., se efectuó la validez de constructo (Análisis Factorial Exploratorio [AFE] y el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio [AFC]) y el cálculo de fiabilidad. Los resultados del AFE arrojaron un modelo con tres factores del CAAFS, que explica el 35 % de la varianza total. El AFC reportó un buen ajuste del modelo de tres factores del CAAFSde 19 ítems (Chi-cuadrado sobre los grados de libertad = 2.38; error de aproximacióncuadrático medio = .046; residuo cuadrático medio estandarizado = .060; índice de ajuste comparativo = .940; índice de Tuker-Lewis = .931). El coeficiente de fiabilidad Omega reportó un valor de .77. Finalmente se demostró que el CAAFS de 19 ítems evidencia validez y fiabilidad; por lo tanto, el cuestionario puede ser aplicado en adolescentes del contexto peruanoAttitudes predict commitment to the practice of physical-sporting activity. The more they are known, the better the prediction of the possible habits that people will adopt. Therefore, it is necessary to havean instrument that shows validity and reliability, especially for adolescents, since adolescence is a fundamental stage in the adoption of healthy lifestyles. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Questionnaire of Attitudes towards the Practice of Health-Oriented Physical-Sports Activity (CAAFS) in Peruvian adolescents. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 1314 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years (15.59±1.05 years), made up of 716 males and 598 females from Lima and Callao, Peru, participated. Using R software version 4.1.0, construct validity (Exploratory Factor Analysis [EFA] and Confirmatory Factor Analysis [CFA]) and reliability calculation were performed. The results of the EFA yielded a three-factor modelof the CAAFS, which explains 35% of the total variance. The AFC reported a good fit of the 19-item CAAFS three-factor model (Chi-square over degrees of freedom = 2.38; root mean square error of approximation = .046; standardized root mean square residual = .060; comparative fit index = .940; Tuker-Lewis index = .931). The Omega reliability coefficient reported a value of .77. Finally, it was demonstrated that the 19-item CAAFS shows validity and reliability; therefore, the questionnaire can be applied to adolescents in the Peruvian contextAs atitudes prevêem o compromisso com a actividade física e o desporto. Quanto mais forem conhecidos, melhor será a previsão dos possíveis hábitos que as pessoas irão adoptar. Por conseguinte, é necessário ter um instrumento que demonstre validade e fiabilidade, especialmente para os adolescentes, uma vez que a adolescência é uma fase chave na adopção de estilos de vida saudáveis. O objectivo deste estudo era analisar as propriedades psicométricas do Questionário de Atitudes para a Prática da Actividade Físico-Sportiva Orientada para a Saúde (CAAFS) em adolescentes peruanos. Este foi um estudo transversal descritivo envolvendo 1314 adolescentes com idades compreendidas entre 13-19 anos (15,59±1,05 anos), compreendendo 716 homens e 598 mulheres de Lima e Callao, Peru. Utilizando o software R versão 4.1.0, foram efectuados cálculos de validade de construção (Análise Exploratória de Factores [EFA] e Análise Confirmativa de Factores [CFA]) e de fiabilidade. Os resultados da AAE produziram um modelo de três factores do CAAFS, o que explica 35% da variação total. O CFA relatou um bom ajuste do modelo de três factores CAAFS de 19 itens (Qui-quadrado sobre graus de liberdade = 2,38; erro quadrático médio de aproximação = 0,046; raiz média quadrada residual padronizada = 0,060; índice de ajuste comparativo = 0,940; índice Tuker-Lewis = 0,931). O coeficiente de fiabilidade ómega comunicou um valor de 0,77. Finalmente, foi demonstrado que o CAAFS de 19 itens mostra validade e fiabilidade; por conseguinte, o questionário pode ser aplicado aos adolescentes no contexto peruan