Endocrine-disrupting nonylphenols – ultra-trace analysis and time-dependent trend in mussels from the German bight

Abstract

A very sensitive and efficient analytical procedure is presented for the determination of 4-nonylphenols (NP) in blue mussels by use of off-line coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). Combined steam distillation and solvent extraction were used to extract the analytes from the mussel samples. Before quantification by GC-MS the raw extracts were purified by normal-phase HPLC. 4-n-Nonylphenol was used as internal standard. The detection limit was 15 ng NP absolute, calculated from the blank value. The method was applied to the determination of NP in blue mussel samples from the German North Sea sampled over a period of 10 years. Collection, homogenization, and storage of the mussels were performed according to the Standard Operating Procedures of the German Environmental Specimen Bank since 1985. The total NP concentrations in the mussels decreased significantly from 1985 (4 microgram kg (-1)) to 1995 (1.1 microgram kg (-1)).

Endocrine disruptors in blue mussels and sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic)

“…Similar ranges of 4-NP levels were also found for the Thermaikos Gulf in the northern Aegean Sea and along the coast of Cambodia (Table 3 ). Nevertheless, the mussels studied in our work generally contained higher 4-NP levels than those sampled from the Thau Lagoon and the North Sea, where a decrease in the concentration of 4-NPs (from 4 to 1.1 ng g −1 w.w. (Günther et al 2001 )) in wild blue mussels from 1985 to 1995 was noted. Mytilus trossulus from the Gulf of Gdańsk appears to be less contaminated with 4-NPs than mussels collected from many locations worldwide (Table 3 ).…”

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in South and Southeast Asian mussels

“…Their phenolic groups may facilitate metabolism and excretion of the compounds and, therefore, may limit their bioaccumulation. However, their occurrence in biological tissues has been reported in only a limited number of taxa (Bennet and Metcalfe 2000;Tsuda et al 2000;Cathum and Sabik 2001;Ferrara et al 2001;Gunther et al 2001;Datta et al 2002;Tsuda et al 2002) and their bioaccumulation has not been well studied.…”

Estrogen-aktive Metabolite der Alkylphenolethoxylate in Lebensmitteln: Eine ungelöste und komplexe Problematik

“…Dann erfolgt eine Normalphasen-HPLC und schließlich werden in den Fraktionen der HPLC durch GC-MS die Nonylphenole quantifiziert. Als interner Standard dient 4-n-NP, das im technischen Gemisch nicht vorkommt (Günther et al, 2001 In allen untersuchten 24 Lebensmittelgruppen wurden NP gefunden. So findet man in Tomaten und Äpfeln beispielsweise ca.…”