Certification of Mass Fractions of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs 28, 52, 74, 99, 101, 105, 110, 118, 138, 149, 153, 156, 177, 180, 183, 187, 194 and 196) in Fish Oil - Certified Reference Material ERM®-BB350

This report describes the preparation of a salmon oil matrix certified reference material (ERM-BB350) and the certification of the content (mass fraction) of a selection of polychlorinated biphenyls (Nos. 28, 52, 74, 99, 101, 105, 110, 118, 138, 149, 153, 156, 177, 180, 183, 187, 194 and 196). Certification of the CRM included testing of the homogeneity and stability of the material as well as the characterisation using an inter-comparison approach. The main purpose of the material is to assess method performance, i.e. for checking accuracy of analytical results. As any reference material, the CRM can also be used for control charts or validation studies. Uncertainties were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [1] and include uncertainties due to possible heterogeneity, instability and characterisation. The certified values for the mass fractions of PCBs are traceable to the SIJRC.DG.D.2-Reference material

EU Wide Monitoring Survey on Waste Water Treatment Plant Effluents

In the year 2010, effluents from 90 European waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) were collected and analysed in total for 160 organic chemicals and 20 inorganic trace elements. The analyses were complemented by applying also effect-based monitoring approaches aiming at estrogenicity and dioxin-like toxicity analysed by in vitro reporter gene bioassays, and yeast and diatom culture acute toxicity optical bioassays. The analytical work was performed in six European expert laboratories. This European-wide monitoring study on the occurrence of micropollutants in WWTP effluents represents the largest EU wide monitoring survey on WWTP effluents ever performed. It produced a comprehensive data set on many so far only locally investigated “emerging” compound classes including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), veterinary (antibiotic) drugs, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organophosphate ester flame retardants, pesticides (and some metabolites) or industrial chemicals such as benzotriazoles (corrosion inhibitors), polycyclic musk fragrances, x-ray contrast agents, Gadolinium compounds, and siloxanes. The obtained results show the presence of 131 target organic compounds in European wastewater effluents, in concentrations ranging from low nanograms to milligrams per liter. These results obtained from 90 different European WWTPs allow the calculation of a European median level for the chemicals investigated. The most relevant compounds identified in the effluent water samples in terms of frecquency of detection, maximum, average and median concentration levels were Sucralose, Acesulfame K (artificial sweeteners), PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOS (perfluoroalkyl substances), N,N’-Diethyltoluamide (DEET; insect repellent), Benzotriazoles (corrosion inhibitors), the pharmaceuticals Bisoprolol, Carbamazepine, Ciprofloxacine, Citaprolam, Clindamycine, Codeine, Diltiazem, Diphenhydramin, Eprosartan, Fexofenadine, Flecainide, Gemfibrozil, Fluconazole, Haloperidol, Ibersartan, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Oxazepam, Risperidone, Sulfamethoxazole, Telmisartan, Tramadol, Trimethoprim, Venlafaxin, the organo-phosphate ester flame retardants Tri-iso-butylphosphate (TIBP), Tributylphosphate (TBP), Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP), Tris(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCPP), Tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TDCP), Tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBEP), Triphenyl-phosphate (TPP), 2-Ethylhexyldiphenyl-phosphate (EHDPP), the x-ray contrast media Amidotrizoic acid, Iohexol, Iopromid, Iomeprol, Iopamidol, the pesticides Terbutylazine, Terbutylazine-desethyl (metabolite), MCPA, Mecoprop, Diuron, Triclosan (antibacterial), and Gadolinium (from magnetic resonance imaging contrast media used in hospitals).JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Occurrence and levels of selected compounds in European compost and digestate samples

This report describes work conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the context of an Administrative Arrangement between DG Environment and the JRC. This work aimed at the generation, within a limited timeframe, of a large amount of analytical data, with high scientific and statistical value, for a number of compost and digestate types (afterwards referred to as COMDIG samples), to help provide a general overview and estimation of that possible variability within and between different COMDIG materials. The report includes the results of a targeted and independent screening of typical European situations of COMDIG materials with regard to the occurrence and levels of compounds of concern, many of which have never been assessed at a pan-European level. In total, 139 samples, mostly taken as grab samples and originating from 15 countries, were assessed for 22 minor and trace elements and 92 organic compounds including ingredients of personal care products and pharmaceuticals. The underlying analytical methods are carefully documented with regard to their performance characteristics. Where available, the so-called “horizontal” standards were followed. The results obtained are assessed statistically. Although the analysed single samples are insufficient to make any statement on the performance of the treatment processes leading to COMDIG samples, this collective of data provide a glimpse of the pan-European situation as regards the studied compounds.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Concurrent Assessment of Phthalates/HEXAMOLL® DINCH Exposure and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Performance in Three European Cohorts of the HBM4EU Aligned Studies

Information about the effects of phthalates and non-phthalate substitute cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (HEXAMOLL® DINCH) on children's neurodevelopment is limited. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the association between phthalate/HEXAMOLL® DINCH exposure and child neurodevelopment in three European cohorts involved in HBM4EU Aligned Studies. Participating subjects were school-aged children belonging to the Northern Adriatic cohort II (NAC-II), Italy, Odense Child Cohort (OCC), Denmark, and PCB cohort, Slovakia. In each cohort, children's neurodevelopment was assessed through the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient score (FSIQ) of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children test using three different editions. The children's urine samples, collected for one point in time concurrently with the neurodevelopmental evaluation, were analyzed for several phthalates/HEXAMOLL® DINCH biomarkers. The relation between phthalates/HEXAMOLL® DINCH and FSIQ was explored by applying separate multiple linear regressions in each cohort. The means and standard deviations of FSIQ were 109 ± 11 (NAC-II), 98 ± 12 (OCC), and 81 ± 15 (PCB cohort). In NAC-II, direct associations between FSIQ and DEHP's biomarkers were found: 5OH-MEHP+5oxo-MEHP (β = 2.56; 95% CI 0.58-4.55; N = 270), 5OH-MEHP+5cx-MEPP (β = 2.48; 95% CI 0.47-4.49; N = 270) and 5OH-MEHP (β = 2.58; 95% CI 0.65-4.51; N = 270). On the contrary, in the OCC the relation between DEHP's biomarkers and FSIQ tended to be inverse but imprecise (p-value ≥ 0.10). No associations were found in the PCB cohort. FSIQ was not associated with HEXAMOLL® DINCH in any cohort. In conclusion, these results do not provide evidence of an association between concurrent phthalate/DINCHHEXAMOLLR DINCH exposure and IQ in children.This work received external funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 733032 [“European Human Biomonitoring Initiative” (HBM4EU)] and received co-funding from the author’s organizations. NAC-II: This research was funded by: the European Union through its Sixth Framework Program for RTD (contract “PHIME” No. FOOD-CT-2006-016253); the Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy (RC 12/12 funded by Ministry of Health—Italy); CROME LIFE Project “Cross-Mediterranean Environment and Health Network” (LIFE12 ENV/GR/001040). OCC: The cohort was funded by the Odense University Hospital, Denmark; the Region of Southern Denmark, The Municipality of Odense, Denmark; The University of Southern Denmark; the Mental Health Service of the Region of Southern Denmark; Odense Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), Den mark; The Danish Center for Hormone Disrupting Chemicals (MST-611-00012); The Danish Research Council (4004-00352B_FSS); Novo Nordisk Foundation, Denmark (grant no. NNF19OC0058266 and NNF17OC0029404); Sygeforsikring Danmark (journalnr. 2021-0173); The Collaborative foundation between Odense University Hospital and Rigshospitalet, Helsefonden, Beckettfonden, the Danish Mental Health Fund, Health Insurance Denmark. The LS-MS/MS equipment was financially supported by the Velux Foundation. PCB: PCB cohort was funded by the Slovak Research and Development Agency, project no. APVV-0571-12 and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, project no. 2014/47-SZU-11. The APC was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 733032.S

Interlaboratory exercise for the analysis of carotenoids and related compounds in dried mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.)

An interlaboratory comparison was done for the analysis of carotenoids in freeze-dried mango. The study was performed from July to September 2018. Mango fruit was freeze-dried, homogenized, and packaged under vacuum conditions in portions of 6 g (test sample). Two test samples were sent to the participating laboratories for analysis. Laboratory results were rated using Z-scores in accordance with ISO 13528 and ISO 17043. The standard deviation for proficiency assessment (also called target standard deviation) was determined using a modified Horwitz function and varied between 10% and 25%, depending on the analyte. Out of 14 laboratories from 10 different countries, 9 laboratories (64%) obtained a satisfactory performance (Z ≤ 2) for the analysis of β-carotene. While for 7 laboratories that analyzed α-carotene, (9Z)-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin, 4 laboratories (57%) obtained a satisfactory performance. However, only 2 laboratories out of 7 (29%) obtained a satisfactory performance for lutein. Based on the comparability of the analytical results, this study concludes that freeze-dried mango pulp can be used as a reference material for the analysis of α and β-carotene, (9Z)-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin by applying different analytical procedures for their extraction and quantification.This work was performed within the frame of the TEAM EC2017TEA442A103 VLIR-UOS project “Improving Ecuadorian child nutrition by using mango by-products as potential sources of bioactive compounds”. JV-Ch wants to acknowledge the quality technical support of Samara Fernández de Souza from VITO. VM-P acknowledges Mayra Anaguano from EPN. AZM acknowledges Fabiane C. Petry for the carotenoid analysis, FAPESP (grant 2018/23752-1) and CNPq (grant 309182/2018-2).Peer reviewe

Results of an Interlaboratory Comparison on the Determination of Polybrominated Flame Retardants in Poly(ethyleneterephthalate)

An intercomparison to establish the performance of routine laboratories in the determination of polybrominated flame retardants in polymers was organised. Commercial poly(ethyleneterepfhthalate) (PET) was fortified with technical Penta-, Octa-, and Deca-BDE mixtures and with Deca-BB technical mixture at 0.4 to 0.8 g/kg. Homogeneity and stability of the total Br content in the material was confirmed. Thirty-seven laboratories from Europe, Asia and the Americas submitted results. Repeatibility standard deviations for individual congeners ranged from 7 to 17 %. Between-laboratory standard deviations ranged from 22 to 61 %. No significant influence of a common standard, application of a standard method or method parameters could be identified. The quality and uncertainty of the results of this study are significantly worse than those reported in the environmental field and indicate a clear need for a learning process among the laboratories involved.JRC.D.2-Reference material