Detection of tetrabromobisphenol A and its mono- and dimethyl derivatives in fish, sediment and suspended particulate matter from European freshwaters and estuaries

Abstract

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−1 ww) and 7 of 7 sole muscle samples (range about 0.5–0.7 μg kg−1 ww). Further, it could be quantified in 11 of the 14 SPM samples (range about 0.5–9.4 μg kg−1 dw) and in both of the surface sediment layer samples (2.3–2.6 μg kg−1 dw). 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−1 ww). Further, it could be quantified in 10 of the 14 river SPM samples (range about 2.3–4.5 μg kg−1 dw) and in both lake surface sediment layer samples (5.2–5.5 μg kg−1 dw). DM-TBBPA was rarely detectable and could not be quantified above the limit of quantification in any sample.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00216-017-0312-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Biotransformation of tetrabromobisphenol A dimethyl ether back to tetrabromobisphenol A in whole pumpkin plants

“…For example, the concentrations of TBBPA and TBBPA DME in surficial sediments were 34 and 24 ng g −1 dry weight (dw) upstream and 270 and 1500 ngg −1 dw downstream of a plastic factory, respectively (Sellström and Jansson,1995). It was also reported that TBBPA MME showed higher concentrations than TBBPA in some fish (Kotthoff et al, 2017). Even in some samples, such as those in mussels and peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) eggs, only TBBPA DME was detectable without measurable TBBPA (Watanabe et al, 1983; Vorkamp et al, 2005).…”

“…TBBPA DME and TBBPA MME have been detected together with TBBPA in aquatic systems, sediments and animals (Watanabe et al, 1983; Sellström and Jansson, 1995; Vorkamp et al, 2005; Kotthoff et al, 2017). TBBPA generally exhibits higher concentrations in the environment than TBBPA DME and TBBPA MME.…”

Thyroid Hormone Disruptors Interfere with Molecular Pathways of Eye Development and Function in Zebrafish

“…In recently published data from our own research, we exposed zebrafish embryos to THDCs with different modes of action: propylthiouracil (PTU), a pharmaceutical that inhibits TH synthesis [17], and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), a flame retardant that has been reported to interact with TH receptors [18,19]. Moreover, the interaction of TBBPA with binding proteins and hepatic clearance have been reported [4], as well as competitive binding to the plasma-transporter protein of T4, transthyretin [18].…”

“…Moreover, the interaction of TBBPA with binding proteins and hepatic clearance have been reported [4], as well as competitive binding to the plasma-transporter protein of T4, transthyretin [18]. The pharmaceutical PTU was selected as a typical positive reference substance, while TBBPA is environmentally relevant with concentrations of up to 2.6 μg kg −1 dry weight in sediment samples and up to 1.2 μg kg −1 wet weight in fish [19]. Measurements from different English lakes revealed that concentrations of TBBPA range from 140 to 3200 pg L −1 (water), 330 to 3800 pg g −1 dry weight (sediment), and <0.29 to 1.7 ng g −1 lipid weight (fish) [20].…”

Application of Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Followed by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Determine Tetrabromobisphenol A in Complex Matrices

“…Greater recovery (84.2–88.6%) was obtained by Erarpat et al (2019) possibly due to the derivatization process and the greater sample volumes reported by these authors to determine organotin compounds in fish and mussel samples. Generally, extraction methods for environmental matrices such as wastewaters, sludge, animal tissues, and aquatic organisms require more robust and expensive techniques, using greater volumes of organic solvents and longer sample preparation times (Zhang et al 2016; Kotthoff et al 2017; Liu L. et al 2017). Most environmental samples are pretreated or extracted with conventional procedures such as SPE or liquid phase extraction, leading to excellent results (Saint‐Louis and Pelletier 2004; Kabir et al 2017; Burato et al 2020).…”