Papers by Sílvia Lacorte i Bruguera
Environment International, 2013
New brominated flame retardants Organophosphate flame retardant D. magna toxicity Risk assessment... more New brominated flame retardants Organophosphate flame retardant D. magna toxicity Risk assessment River The occurrence, partitioning and risk of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), nine new brominated (NBFRs) and ten organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) were evaluated in three Spanish rivers suffering different anthropogenic pressures (Nalón, Arga and Besòs). OPFRs were ubiquitous contaminants in water (ΣOPFRs ranging from 0.0076 to 7.2 μg L -1 ) and sediments (ΣOPFRs ranging 3.8 to 824 μg kg -1 ). Brominated flame retardants were not detected in waters, whereas ΣPBDEs ranged from 88 to 812 μg kg -1 and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) reached 435 μg kg -1 in sediments from the River Besòs, the most impacted river. The occurrence of flame retardants in river water and sediment was clearly associated with human activities, since the highest levels occurred near urban and industrial zones and after wastewater treatment plants discharge. Daphnia magna toxicity was carried out for OPFRs, the most ubiquitous flame retardants, considering individual compounds and mixtures. Toxicity of nine tested OPFRs differed largely among compounds, with EC 50 values ranging over three magnitude orders (0.31-381 mg L -1 ). Results evidenced that these compounds act by non-polar narcosis, since their toxicity was proportional to their lipophilicity (K ow ). Furthermore, their joint toxicity was additive, which means that single and joint toxicity can be predicted knowing their concentration levels in water using quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) and predictive mixture models. Based on these results, a risk assessment considering joint effect was performed calculating and summing risk quotients (RQs) for the water and sediment samples. No significant risk to D. magna (ΣRQs b1) was observed for any of the monitored rivers.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2016
The sorption behaviour of three perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFO... more The sorption behaviour of three perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)), was studied in sewage sludge samples. Sorption isotherms were obtained by varying initial concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and PFBS. The maximum values of the sorption solid-liquid distribution coefficients (K d,max ) varied by almost two orders of magnitude among the target PFASs: 140 -281 mL g -1 for PFOS, 30 -54 mL g -1 for PFOA and 9 -18 mL g -1 for PFBS. Freundlich and linear fittings were appropriate for describing the sorption behaviour of PFASs in the sludge samples, and the derived K F and K d,linear parameters correlated well. The hydrophobicity of the PFASs was the key parameter that influenced their sorption in sewage sludge. Sorption parameters and log(K OW ) were correlated, and for PFOS (the most hydrophobic compound), pH and Ca+Mg status of the sludge controlled the variation in the sorption parameter values. Sorption reversibility was also tested from desorption isotherms, which were also linear. Desorption parameters were systematically higher than the corresponding sorption parameters (up to six-fold higher), thus indicating a significant degree of irreversible sorption, which decreased in the sequence PFOS > PFOA > PFBS.
Journal of chromatography. A, Jan 4, 2009
This study presents the optimization and application of an analytical method based on the use of ... more This study presents the optimization and application of an analytical method based on the use of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the ultra-trace analysis of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) in Arctic ice. In a first step, the mass-spectrometry conditions were optimized to quantify 48 compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, brominated diphenyl ethers, chlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorinated pesticides) at the low pg/L level. In a second step, the performance of this analytical method was evaluated to determine POPs in Arctic cores collected during an oceanographic campaign. Using a calibration range from 1 to 1800 pg/L and by adjusting acquisition parameters, limits of detection at the 0.1-99 and 102-891 pg/L for organohalogenated compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively, were obtained by extracting 200 mL of unfiltered ice water. alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, DDTs, chlorinated biphenyl c...
Chromatographia, 2002
Heacl space gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (HS-GC-FID), ancl purge and trap g... more Heacl space gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (HS-GC-FID), ancl purge and trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (P&T-GC-MS) have been used to determine methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and benzene, toluene, and the xylenes (BTEX) in groundwater. In the work discussed in this paper measures of quality, e.g. recovery (94-111%), precision (4.6 -12.2%), limits of detection (0.3 -5.7 I~g L 1 for HS and 0.001 I~g L 1 for PT), and robustness, for both methods were compared. In addition, for purposes of comparison, groundwater samples from areas suffering from odor problems because of fuel spillage and tank leakage were analyzed by use of both techniques. For high concentration levels there was good correlation between results from both methods. Results from P&T analysis showed that 20 of the 21 samples from the vulnerable areas contained MTBE at concentrations up to 666 I~g L 1. Levels in seven samples exceeded maximum permissible levels for odor and taste set by the USEPA (20 -40 I~g L 1); for thirteen of the samples levels were bel',,veen 0.28 and 179 I~g L 1. The sensitivily of HS-GC-FID was, however, I',,vo to three orders of magnitude lower and concentrations of 6-10 I~g L 1 could not always be detected, leading to false negatives. The same behavior was observed for analysis of BTEXthe lower sensitivity of HS-GC-FID and coelution of peaks led to results of poor rehabihty, and confirmation by GC-MS was always necessary. The applicability of I',,vo analytical methods widely used for routine monitoring of VOC thus depends on the organoleptic thresholds of MTBE and BTEX in groundwater (20 I~g L 1) and the need to survey trace concentrations of persistent MTBE in vulnerable aquifers.
Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2014
The relationship between the reproductive stage, the total lipid content and eight broadly used b... more The relationship between the reproductive stage, the total lipid content and eight broadly used biochemical stress responses were used to assess seasonal and pollutant effects across eleven different zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) populations from the Ebro and Mijares river basin, Spain. Biochemical markers included superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S transferase (GST), multixenobiotic transporter activity (MXR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and single strand DNA breaks. Principal component analyses of zebra mussel responses across an annual cycle, showed a marked gonad stage component in total lipid content and biochemical responses. The same response pattern was observed across the populations sampled along a broad geographical and pollution gradient. Population differences on the gonad developmental stage were highly correlated with most of the measured responses and unrelated with the pollution gradient. Conv...
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Papers by Sílvia Lacorte i Bruguera