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To simultaneously quantify and profile the complex mixture of short-, median-, and long-chain CPs (SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs) in Australian sewage sludge, we applied and further validated a recently developed novel instrumental technique, using quadrupole time-of-flight high resolution mass spectrometry running in the negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode (APCI-qTOF-HRMS). Without using an analytical column the cleaned extracts were directly injected into the qTOF-HRMS followed by quantification of the CPs by a mathematical algorithm. The recoveries of the four SCCP, MCCP and LCCP-spiked sewage sludge samples ranged from 86 to 123%. This APCI-qTOF-HRMS method is a fast and promising technique for routinely measuring SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs in sewage sludge. Australian sewage sludge was dominated by MCCPs with concentrations ranging from 542 to 3645 ng/g dry weight (dw). Lower SCCPs concentrations (<57–1421 ng/g dw) were detected in the Australian sewage sludge, which were comparable with the LCCPs concentrations (116–960 ng/g dw). This is the first time that CPs were reported in Australian sewage sludge. The results of this study gives a first impression on the distribution of the SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs in Australia wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Concentrations of nine organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in samples of indoor dust (n = 85) and air (n = 45) from Australian houses, offices, hotels, and transportation (buses, trains, and aircraft). All target compounds were detected in indoor dust and air samples. Median ∑OPFRs concentrations were 40 μg/g in dust and 44 ng/m in indoor air, while median ∑PBDEs concentrations were 2.1 μg/g and 0.049 ng/m. Concentrations of FRs were higher in rooms that contained carpet, air conditioners, and various electronic items. Estimated daily intakes in adults are 14000 pg/kg body weight/day and 330 pg/kg body weight/day for ∑OPFRs and ∑PBDEs, respectively. Our results suggest that for the volatile FRs such as tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and TCIPP, inhalation is expected to be the more important intake pathway compared to dust ingestion and dermal contact.

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23Pesticide exposure threatens many freshwater and estuarine ecosystems around the world. 24This study examined the temporal and spatial trends of pesticide concentrations in a 25 waterway within an agriculturally developed dry-tropics catchment using a combination of 26 grab and passive sampling methods over a continuous two year monitoring program. A total 27 of 43 pesticide residues were detected with seven pesticides exceeding ecologically relevant 28 water quality guidelines/trigger values during the study period and four (ametryn, atrazine, 29 diuron and metolachlor) of these exceeding guidelines for several months. The presence and 30 concentration of the pesticides in the stream coincided with seasonal variability in rainfall, 31 harvest timing/cropping cycle and management changes. Our sampling approach 32demonstrates that the application of these complementary sampling techniques (both grab 33 and passive sampling) were effective to establish pesticide usage patterns in upstream 34 locations where application data are unavailable. 35

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