title: Quaternary Triphenylphosphonium Compounds: A New Class of Environmental Pollutants.
abstract: A nontarget screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was established to identify industrial emerging contaminants in the Rhine River. With this approach, quaternary triphenylphosphonium compounds (R-Ph3P(+)) were identified as new emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. The suggested chemical structures were elucidated by MS fragmentation and chemical databank searches and eventually confirmed via authentic standards. R-Ph3P(+) are used worldwide by the chemical industry to synthesize alkenes via the Wittig reaction. In total, five compounds [R = butyl (Bu), R = ethyl (Et), R = methoxymethyl (MeOMe), R = methyl (Me), and R = phenyl (Ph)] were found in German rivers and streams. R-Ph3P(+) were detected only in those rivers and streams that received an appreciable portion of wastewater from the chemical industry. Up to 2.5 μg/L Et-Ph3P(+) was quantified in a small stream from the Hessian Ried, and in the Rhine, up to 0.56 μg/L Me-Ph3P(+) was detected. R-Ph3P(+) were also identified in suspended particulate matter and sediments in the Rhine catchment, with MeOMe-Ph3P(+) concentrations of up to 0.75 mg/kg and up to 0.21 mg/kg, respectively. Because of the lack of ecotoxicological studies, the environmental risks caused by R-Ph3P(+) can be assessed for neither pelagic nor benthic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Hydrology , Department of Aquatic Chemistry, 56068 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schlüsener
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Hydrology , Department of Aquatic Chemistry, 56068 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kunkel
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Hydrology , Department of Aquatic Chemistry, 56068 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ternes
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002617:Chemical Industry; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical