Distribution and Fate of Ultraviolet Absorbents and Industrial Antioxidants in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

Ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) and industrial antioxidants (IAs) are contaminants of emerging concern. In this study, we investigated the distribution and partitioning of these contaminants in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment, and various tissues of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) and northern pike ( Esox lucius ) from the St. Lawrence River (SLR), Quebec, Canada. Results indicated that 2,6-di- tert -butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BHTQ) was the dominant contaminant in the dissolved phase of the surface water, with median concentrations of 43, 15, and 123 ng/L for three sampling sites, respectively. Surface water collected downstream of a major city showed higher levels of various UVAs, BHTQ, and diphenylamine compared to the upstream, suggesting the influence of the urban activities on the contamination of these emerging contaminants in the SLR. SPM showed greater sorption capacities of most target contaminants compared to those of the sediment. Different contamination profiles were found in lake sturgeon and northern pike, implying that the accumulation of UVAs and IAs in fish depends on their feeding behavior. The field-based tissue-specific bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for frequently detected contaminants (log BAF 1.5–4.2) were generally comparable to or lower than the Estimation Program Interface modeling results (1.4–5.0), indicating that some of these contaminants may be less bioaccumulative than previously expected.

E-Waste Recycling Emits Large Quantities of Emerging Aromatic Amines and Organophosphites: A Poorly Recognized Source for Another Two Classes of Synthetic Antioxidants

“…A more recent study provided new evidence of multiple PPD-derived quinones in environmental media . These selected PPDs and their derived quinones have also been verified to be toxic and pervasive in the environment. − In contrast to PPDs, NPAs and DPAs have rarely been investigated, and most have not yet entered the radar of toxicity or environmental studies. − Generally, environmental PPDs, NPAs, and DPAs are considered to be linked to tire rubber. ,,, Comprehensive identifications of AAs, including PPDs, NPAs, and DPAs, as well as their significant sources other than tire rubber, are urgently needed to assess the overall risk.…”

Widening the Lens on UV Filters: Newfound Ubiquity of Triazine UV Filters in Breast Milk from South China and Implications for Augmented “Cocktail” Exposure in Infants

“…Among them, some BTR- and BP-type UVFs are listed as high production volume chemicals by the U.S. EPA and/or European Chemical Agency (ECHA) and have become the most commonly used UVFs over the past decades . Owing to their large-scale applications, BTR- and BP-UVFs have been found to be globally distributed in multiple environmental matrices (e.g., air, water, sediment, sludge, and dust), , biota, , and human specimens. − The environmental ubiquity of these two classes of traditional UVFs has gained increasing attention from not only scientific communities but also the public, and thus current concerns on UV filters are mainly focused on BTR- and BP-UVFs.…”

Occurrence and Temporal Trends of Benzotriazole UV Stabilizers in Mollusks (2010–2018) from the Chinese Bohai Sea Revealed by Target, Suspect, and Nontarget Screening Analysis

“…Previous scientific interests were primarily focused on the environmental behaviors of UV-320, 2-(2-hydroxy-3- tert -butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chloro benzotriazole (UV-326), UV-327, UV-328, and 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-P) in field investigations. ,,,, The occurrence of UV-234, UV-329, and UV-350 was also reported in sewage sludge in China . Recently, through laboratory exposure experiments, , biotransformation products (bio-TPs) of phase I reactions (e.g., hydroxylated and carbonyl-substituted metabolites) have been found in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and human liver microsomes.…”