2 research outputs found
Screening of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in various aquatic organisms
The aim of this study was to evaluate the
occurrence of five perfluorinated chemicals (perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA),
perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic
acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) in aquatic
organisms dwelling in either freshwater or marine ecosystems.
Organisms selected were insect larvae, oysters, zebra
mussels, sardines, and crabs, which are widespread in the
environment and may represent potential bioindicators of
exposure to PFCs. The study comprises the optimization of
a solid–liquid extraction method and determination by
high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem
mass spectrometry. Using spiked zebra mussels at 10
and 100 ng/g level, the method developed provided
recoveries of 96% and 122%, and 82% to 116%, respectively,
and a limit of detection between 0.07 and 0.22 ng/g
ww. The method was highly sensitivity and robust to
determine PFC compounds in a wide array of biological
matrices, and no matrix interferents nor blank contamination
was observed. Among organisms studied, none of the
bivalves accumulated PFCs, and contrarily, insect larvae,
followed by fish and crabs contained levels ranging from
0.23 to 144 ng/gww of PFOS, from 0.14 to 4.3 ng/gww of
PFOA, and traces of PFNA and PFHxS. Assessment of the
potential use of aquatic organisms for biomonitoring studies
is further discussed.This study was funded by the Ministry of
Environment of Spain [042/RN08/03.4] and [038-2009] projects.
The authors are grateful to Dr. Albert Bertolero for facilitating the crab
samples from the Ebro Delta. Dr. Roser Charler, Dori Fanjul, and
MarĂa Comesaña are acknowledged for invaluable MS assistance.Peer reviewe