Detection of tetrabromobisphenol A and its mono- and dimethyl derivatives in fish, sediment and suspended particulate matter from European freshwaters and estuaries.
An analytical method was developed for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol-A-monomethyl ether (MM-TBBPA) and 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol-A-dimethyl ether (DM-TBBPA), and its valid application on fish muscle matrix (bream and sole), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediment layer samples, using only 0.5 g sample material, is demonstrated. Here, for the first time, DM-TBBPA could be determined by an LC-MS/MS-based method applying atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), using the same sample extracts for all three analytes. Samplings covered freshwater fish (bream; annually, period 2007-2013) and SPM or sediment (every second year in the period 2008-2014) at selected European sites (rivers: Tees/UK, Mersey/UK, Western Scheldt/NL, Götaälv/SE, Rhône/FR; Lake Belau/DE). TBBPA could be quantified in 13 of 36 bream samples (range about 0.5-1.2 μg kg-1ww) and 7 of 7 sole muscle samples (range about 0.5-0.7 μg kg-1ww). Further, it could be quantified in 11 of the 14 SPM samples (range about 0.5-9.4 μg kg-1dw) and in both of the surface sediment layer samples (2.3-2.6 μg kg-1dw). MM-TBBPA could be quantified in 12 of 36 bream and 4 of 7 sole muscle samples (range about 0.8-1.8 μg kg-1ww). Further, it could be quantified in 10 of the 14 river SPM samples (range about 2.3-4.5 μg kg-1dw) and in both lake surface sediment layer samples (5.2-5.5 μg kg-1dw). DM-TBBPA was rarely detectable and could not be quantified above the limit of quantification in any sample.
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392, Schmallenberg, Germany. matthias.kotthoff@ime.fraunhofer.de.
Matthias
M
Kotthoff
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392, Schmallenberg, Germany.
Heinz
H
Rüdel
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392, Schmallenberg, Germany.
Heinrich
H
Jürling
D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D005060:Europe; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D057230:Limit of Detection; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D005411:Flame Retardants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C554213:tetrabromobisphenol A dimethyl ether; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A
Atmospheric pressure photoionization; Brominated flame retardants; Environmental monitoring; High-resolution mass spectrometry; Tetrabromobisphenol A