Emerging contaminants (ECs) are chemical compounds not commonly present in the environment and whose dispersion may cause known or suspected damage to the environment and human health. Despite their potential adverse effects, these compounds have not yet undergone international regulation1. Recent scientific inquiries confirmed the presence of several categories of ECs in remote regions, including Antarctica. These compounds include pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and hormones and are characterised by their poor degradability and pseudo-persistence2,3. Different approaches can be adopted to assess and monitor the impact of ECs on the Antarctic ecosystem. Filter-feeding organisms, such as bivalves, are often utilised in literature as biomonitoring species due to their capacity to accumulate pollutants through their feeding habits4. However, the inherent complexity of the sample poses a significant challenge in interpreting biomonitoring results. In response to these challenges, passive samplers are indicated as a valid alternative for environmental monitoring. These samplers offer advantages such as simplicity of deployment and the ability to provide integrated measurements over time, offering valuable information into temporal trends of EC levels in Antarctic waters5. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of Antarctic contamination was undertaken by evaluating two distinct approaches. The bioindicator species Adamussium colbecki was analysed alongside the Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) deployed during the 2022-2023 Antarctic campaign. A. colbecki samples underwent a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) pre-treatment procedure that was optimised using an experimental design technique. POCIS sorbents were eluted with a two-step elution by using methanol and a dichloromethane-isopropanol mixture. The resulting extracts were run dry and resuspended with methanol. The extracts obtained from the two methods were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).
A study of emerging contaminants present in Antarctic matrices by means of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry
Gambetta Vianna;Barbara Benedetti;Di Carro;Emanuele Magi
2024-01-01
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) are chemical compounds not commonly present in the environment and whose dispersion may cause known or suspected damage to the environment and human health. Despite their potential adverse effects, these compounds have not yet undergone international regulation1. Recent scientific inquiries confirmed the presence of several categories of ECs in remote regions, including Antarctica. These compounds include pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and hormones and are characterised by their poor degradability and pseudo-persistence2,3. Different approaches can be adopted to assess and monitor the impact of ECs on the Antarctic ecosystem. Filter-feeding organisms, such as bivalves, are often utilised in literature as biomonitoring species due to their capacity to accumulate pollutants through their feeding habits4. However, the inherent complexity of the sample poses a significant challenge in interpreting biomonitoring results. In response to these challenges, passive samplers are indicated as a valid alternative for environmental monitoring. These samplers offer advantages such as simplicity of deployment and the ability to provide integrated measurements over time, offering valuable information into temporal trends of EC levels in Antarctic waters5. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of Antarctic contamination was undertaken by evaluating two distinct approaches. The bioindicator species Adamussium colbecki was analysed alongside the Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) deployed during the 2022-2023 Antarctic campaign. A. colbecki samples underwent a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) pre-treatment procedure that was optimised using an experimental design technique. POCIS sorbents were eluted with a two-step elution by using methanol and a dichloromethane-isopropanol mixture. The resulting extracts were run dry and resuspended with methanol. The extracts obtained from the two methods were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).
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