Discrete bands of petroleum hydrocarbons and molecular organic markers identified within massive coral skeletons

The tissues of corals deposit an aragonite exoskeleton beneath their outer living film at a rate dependent on growth and hence on environmental conditions. This typically results in annual (seasonal) bands being formed within colonies. By analysing molecular organic markers within these bands, our research suggests that coral skeletons record contamination from oil and potentially could be used to investigate other anthropogenic and biogenic organic inputs. Our analyses of sections from within corals (Porites lutea) sampled from the Gulf coasts of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia demonstrate discrete bands of oil contamination which, using selected terpenoid biomarkers, can be source-indexed to specific oil fields (i.e. Kuwait, Iranian or Arabian crude oils). Together with dating using microscopic and X-ray inspection, this offers the potential to investigate contamination during recent years. Further research is, however, necessary to elucidate degradation mechanisms during, and following, the occlusion process of organics within coral skeletons

An integrated approach to determine interactive genotoxic and global gene expression effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on marine mussels: evidence of reverse ‘Trojan Horse’ effects

International audienc

Critical evaluation of the determination of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, phenolic endocrine disrupters and faecal steroids by GC/MS and PTV-GC/MS in environmental waters

9 pages, 6 figures, 3 tablesAn analytical method is described for the determination of a broad range of emerging and priority pollutants, together with sewage molecular markers in environmental waters. The step-by-step study of the GC/MS analyses focuses on the effects of experimental variables using a large volume injection (LVI) technique [a programmed temperature-vaporising (PTV) inlet], the evaluation of a clean-up step using classical and newer sorbents (i.e. Al-N, Fl, NH2, PSA, Si, CN and DIOL), and the revision of how organic matter [i.e. humic acids (HA) content] affects method performance. Reproducibility and recoveries from spiked coastal water samples at different analyte concentrations (100, 250 and 500 ng L-1) as well as with different levels of spiked humic acids (2, 10 and 20 mg L-1) are reported indicating a good performance of the extraction procedure with low levels of HA (<10 mg L-1). The presence of HA is a critical parameter during the solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures. Of the clean-up sorbents tested, CN and DIOL proved most efficient in cleaning-up the extracts with recoveries in the range of 66-77% and 100-114%, respectively for the selected analytes. Both GC/MS and PTV-GC/MS instrumental configurations were tested using final sewage effluents, riverine, estuarine and coastal water samples. However, limited applicability of the PTV inlet is reported for environmental applications, affording only a modest improvement in chromatographic signal-to-noise ratiosThis research was supported by an INTRA-EUROPEAN FELLOWSHIP (2005–2007) through the MARIE CURIE ACTIONS - Human Resources and Mobility Activity under the 6th EU-FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (MEIF-CT-2005-02399, “PPCPs-TRANSWATER” Project) and as part of the Endocrine Disruptors in Catchments programme (EDCAT), which is supported by the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency of England and WalesPeer Reviewe

12 Booster biocide antifoulants: is history

Emerging lessons from ecosystems | Booster biocide antifoulants: is history repeating itself

The application of solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) to the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

No description supplie

Sorption of the natural endocrine disruptors, oestrone and 17b-oestradiol in the aquatic environment

No description supplie

Sources, distribution and behaviour of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in the Tamar Estuary, UK

9 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables.-- PMID: 15350404 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Nov 2004.Negligible information is currently available concerning levels of the fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in European estuaries or coastal environments. MTBE was measured at selected potentially contaminated harbours and marinas, and throughout an axial transect of the Tamar Estuary, UK. Headspace solid-phase microextraction was used in combination with GC–MS for its determination. MTBE was detected in water samples from all stations at concentrations ranging from a few ng/l to a maximum of 194 ng/l (in a semi-enclosed harbour). Elevated levels were generally associated with motor vehicle and boating activities. The Tamar road and rail bridges provided a major input to the lower estuary, downstream of which conservative mixing appeared depressed, probably through volatilisation and possibly through salting-out. The selected analytical system (using a Carboxen/PDMS fiber) proved both rapid and highly sensitive (with a detection limit of 6 ng/l). During method development, salinity was shown to have a major influence in controlling the extraction efficiency and it was found necessary to adjust salinity in all samples (to 75% saturation) prior to extraction. From these tests, we (for the first time) estimated the Setschenow (“salting-out”) constant of MTBE to be 0.11 l/mol.This work was financially supported by the Catalonian Government.Peer reviewe

Behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dissolved, colloidal and particulate phases in sedimentary cores

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been successfully used for extracting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from porewater samples from the Mersey Estuary, UK. The majority of the PAHs in porewater samples are associated with colloids due to the high DOC concentrations. The truly dissolved PAH concentrations varied from 66 to 1050 ng L-1 in core 2 and from 95 to 740 ng L-1 in core 3, and were dominated by naphthalene, fluoranthene, and pyrene. Although absent in the dissolved phase, the high-molecular-mass compounds were found in the colloid-associated fraction of porewater. PAHs in sediments arose from a range of compounds with 4- and 5-ring PAHs dominating. The partitioning of PAHs between sediment and porewater shows that PAHs are enriched in the sediment phase. When the soot carbon content was considered, predictions of the partition behaviour were found to agree more closely with the observed distribution. The results reiterate the importance of evaluating the speciation of organic pollutants in both porewater and sediments in order to accurately predict their environmental fate and potential toxicity. © 2007 Taylor & Francis