Emerging Contaminants Testing

Meng, Lingning, et al. Environment International 192 (2024): 109027.

As the pharmaceutical industry develops, halogenated hydrocarbons, which are both key raw materials and emissions from the industry, may be considered emerging atmospheric contaminants due to their toxicity and low atmospheric oxidation.

This study analyzed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from four pharmaceutical companies. Samples were taken three times from both fixed and fugitive sampling sites at each company. A total of 141 VOCs were identified. The mean concentration and proportion of halogenated hydrocarbons from these companies were the highest compared to other industries in the industrial park, reaching 18.9 ppm and 28.8%, respectively. Fixed emissions from the companies showed the highest concentrations of dichloromethane and chlorobenzene, with mean concentrations of 11.4 ppm and 250.67 ppb, respectively. The mean concentration of fugitive emissions of dichloromethane from these companies was lower than in other pharmaceutical studies. Newly detected halogenated hydrocarbons, such as 1,1-dichloropropanone and dichloronitromethane, present potential non-cancer and cancer risks to workers. Chlorobenzene was identified as a significant potential cancer risk, with a value of 0.00965, and 2,6-dichloropyridine was highlighted as a potential emerging contaminant due to its lower MIR value and higher cancer risk. The study suggests that pharmaceutical companies focus on controlling the emissions of chlorobenzene and dichloromethane, which may be key emerging contaminants, and improve the treatment of waste gases in workshops and sewage stations.

Scur, Rafael, et al. Green Analytical Chemistry (2024): 100118.

Traditional analytical methods for detecting organic contaminants in water are often complex, time-consuming, and require large quantities of chemicals. In this study, we developed an environmentally friendly sample preparation method using Araucaria angustifolia bracts as a natural sorbent in the bar adsorptive microextraction technique.

We analyzed eight emerging contaminants (methyl, propyl, and butylparaben, bisphenols A and F, estradiol, ethinylestradiol, and benzophenone) in river water samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Central composite design identified optimal extraction conditions, which involved adding 30% (w/v) NaCl to the sample at pH 6 and allowing it to sit for 180 minutes. Simplex-centroid design indicated that the best desorption solvent was a mixture of acetonitrile and water (3:1) at 80 μL, with a desorption time of 40 minutes. Calibration curves showed correlation coefficients greater than 0.995, and the limits of quantification ranged from 1 to 10 µg/L, with inter-day precision between 13 and 22%. Relative recoveries in two river water samples ranged from 62% to 116%, with relative standard deviations between 5% and 28%, confirming the method's accuracy and precision. This method provides a more environmentally sustainable approach to sample preparation for contaminant analysis.

Méndez-Catalán, Julia, et al. Journal of Chromatography Open 6 (2024): 100178.

The presence of emerging contaminants in water is a significant route of human exposure, potentially leading to severe health effects. Effective elimination of these contaminants through proper treatment is crucial, necessitating the monitoring of effluents from wastewater treatment plants and areas near their discharge points.

This study focuses on developing and validating an analytical method for detecting 15 organic contaminants of emerging concern in both wastewater and seawater samples. The method utilizes an automated solid-phase extraction system and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Matrix-matched calibration exhibited good linearity, with determination coefficients ≥ 0.990. An evaluation of the matrix effect revealed substantial signal suppression for most analytes, highlighting the importance of addressing this effect for accurate quantification. Recovery values ranged from 74.7% to 109%, with relative standard deviations ≤ 20.5% for the majority of analytes. In seawater and wastewater samples, 11 target analytes were detected in at least one sample, with concentrations ranging from below the method's limit of quantification to 217 ± 92 ng/L in seawater and up to 2340 ± 107 ng/L in wastewater samples.