Determination of nine benzotriazole UV stabilizers in environmental water samples by automated on-line solid phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method using automated on-line solid phase extraction coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system was developed for the determination of emerging benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZTs) in different environmental water matrices including river water, sewage influent and effluent. Water sample was injected directly and the analytes were preconcentrated on a Polar Advantage II on-line SPE cartridge. After cleanup step the target BZTs were eluted in back flush mode and then separated on a liquid chromatography column. Experimental parameters such as sample loading flow rate, SPE cartridge, pH value and methanol ratio in the sample were optimized in detail. The method detection limits ranged from 0.21 to 2.17 ng/L. Recoveries of the target BZTs at 50 ng/L spiking level ranged from 76% to 114% and the inter-day RSDs ranged from 1% to 15%. The optimized method was successfully applied to analyze twelve water samples collected from different wastewater treatment plants and rivers, and five BZTs (UV-P, UV-329, UV-350, UV-234 and UV-328) were detected with concentrations up to 37.1 ng/L. The proposed method is simple, sensitive and suitable for simultaneous analysis and monitoring of BZTs in water samples.Sponsors:National Natural Science Foundation Grant(s): 21207140  20890110  20621703 National Basic Research Program of China Grant(s): 2009CB421605 </p

Occurrence of Synthetic Phenolic Antioxidants and Major Metabolites in Municipal Sewage Sludge in China

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are one group of widely used additive chemicals, which have not yet had focused attention except for a few compounds such as 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT). In this study, the occurrence and composition profiles of 12 frequently used SPAs and three BHT metabolites were investigated in fifty-six sludge samples collected from individual wastewater treatment plants in China. Eleven SPAs were positively found in the sludge samples, in which, to our knowledge, eight SPA compounds were identified for the first time in the environment. BHT, 4-<i>tert</i>-octylphenol (4-<i>t</i>OP), and 2,4,6-tri-<i>tert</i>-bultylphenol (AO 246) were the most dominant SPAs in the sludge at mean concentrations of 4.14 μg/g, 374 ng/g, and 98.1 ng/g d.w. (dry weight). Meanwhile, three BHT metabolites, including 3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (BHT-CHO), 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BHT-Q), and 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone (BHT-quinol), were also found in most of the samples (>98.2%) with mean concentrations of 141, 562, and 225 ng/g d.w., respectively. The activated sludge system (anaerobic, anoxic, and oxic tanks) of a wastewater treatment plant was further investigated for the removal efficiencies of the SPAs. High removal efficiencies (80.1–89.2%) were found for the six detected SPAs in the aqueous phase, while generation of large proportions of the three BHT metabolites was also observed

Distribution and Preliminary Exposure Assessment of Bisphenol AF (BPAF) in Various Environmental Matrices around a Manufacturing Plant in China

Increasing attention has been paid to bisphenol A and bisphenol (BP) analogues due to high production volumes, wide usage and potential adverse effects. Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is considered a new bisphenol analogue which is used as raw material in plastic industry, but little is known about its occurrence in the environment and the potential associated risk. In this work, BPAF levels and environmental distribution were reported in samples collected around a manufacturing plant and a preliminary exposure risk assessment to local residents was conducted. BPAF was detected in most of the samples, with levels in river ranging between 4 ng/L, sediments (0.520–2.00 × 10³ ng/g dry weight, dw), soils

Identification and Composition of Emerging Quaternary Ammonium Compounds in Municipal Sewage Sludge in China

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have raised considerable attention due to their wide commercial applications and recent discovery of unknown persistent analogues in aqueous environment. In this work, the occurrence and distribution of alkyltrimethylammonium (ATMAC), benzylakyldimethylethylammonium (BAC) and dialkyldimethylammonium (DADMAC) homologues were investigated in fifty-two municipal sewage sludge samples. ATMAC C10–18, BAC C8–18 and paired DADMAC C8:8-C18:18 as well as emerging homologues such as ATMAC-20, 22 and mixed DADMAC-16:18 and 14:16 were present. Furthermore, paired DADMAC-20:20 and mixed DADMAC-14:18, 18:20 were identified for the first time by nontarget qualitative strategies. A triple quadruple mass spectrometer quantification method was also initially verified with the aid of laboratory synthesized standards for the analysis of the mixed DADMACs with no certificated commercial standards currently available. The total concentrations of ATMACs, BACs and DADMACs were in the range of 0.38–293, 0.09–191 and 0.64–344 μg/g dry weight, respectively, and particularly, mixed DADMACs constituted 39 ± 7% of total DADMAC concentrations. The concentrations and profiles of individual homologues further suggested different QAC applications and fate in China. Significant correlations were also found among the concentrations of various QAC homologues as well as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) characteristics (total organic carbon contents and daily treatment volumes)

Risk effects of meteorological factors on human brucellosis in Jilin province, China, 2005–2019

Background: The impact of climate on zoonotic infectious diseases (or can be referred to as climate-sensitive zoonotic diseases) is confirmed. Yet, research on the association between brucellosis and climate is limited. We aim to understand the impact of meteorological factors on the risk of brucellosis, especially in northeastern China. Methods: Monthly incidence data for brucellosis from 2005 to 2019 in Jilin province was obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monthly meteorological data (average temperature (°C), wind velocity (m/s), relative humidity (%), sunshine hours (h), air pressure (hPa), and rainfall (mm)) in Jilin province, China, from 2005 to 2019 were collected from the China Meteorological Information Center (http://data.cma.cn/). The Spearman's correlation was used to choose among the several meteorological variables. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the lag and non-linearity effect of meteorological factors on the risk of brucellosis. Results: A total of 24,921 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Jilin province from 2005 to 2019, with the peak epidemic period from April to June. Low temperature and low sunshine hours were protective factors for the brucellosis, where the minimum RR values were 0.50 (95 % CI = 0.31–0.82) for −13.7 °C with 1 month lag and 0.61 (95 % CI = 0.41–0.91) for 110.5h with 2 months lag, respectively. High temperature, high sunshine hours, and low wind velocity were risk factors for brucellosis. The maximum RR values were 2.91 (95 % CI = 1.43–5.92, lag = 1, 25.7 °C), 1.85 (95 % CI = 1.23–2.80, lag = 2, 332.6h), and 1.68 (95 % CI = 1.25–2.26, lag = 2, 1.4 m/s). The trends in the impact of extreme temperature and extreme sunshine hours on the transmission of brucellosis were generally consistent. Conclusion: High temperature, high sunshine hours, and low wind velocity are more conducive to the transmission of brucellosis with an obvious lag effect. The results will deepen the understanding of the relationship between climate and brucellosis and provide a reference for formulating relevant public health policies