Bo Jansson

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in biological samples from the Swedish environment

Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDE, are widespread contaminants in the Swedish environment and are present in both background and industrialised areas. This study presents results from analyses of a variety of species from different sampling sites in Sweden. The spatial trend along the Swedish coast is similar to that of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and the DDTs. PBDE seem to bio-magnify in fish consumers like grey seal and guillemot (egg). The relative amounts of the investigated tetra- and pentabrominated PBDE congeners are different in different species and in different areas. The importance of a sampling strategy when doing time-trend studies is demonstrated for guillemot eggs.

Controlling persistent organic pollutants-what next?

Within the context of current international initiatives on the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), an overview is given of the scientific knowledge relating to POP sources, emissions, transport, fate and effects. At the regional scale, improvements in mass balance models for well-characterised POPs are resulting in an ability to estimate their environmental concentrations with sufficient accuracy to be of help for some regulatory purposes. The relevance of the parameters used to define POPs within these international initiatives is considered with an emphasis on mechanisms for adding new substances to the initial lists. A tiered approach is proposed for screening the large number of untested chemical substances according to their long-range transport potential, persistence and bioaccumulative potential prior to more detailed risk assessments. The importance of testing candidate POPs for chronic toxicity (i.e. for immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity) is emphasised as is a need for the further development of relevant SAR (structure activity relationship) models and in vitro and in vivo tests for these effects. Where there is a high level of uncertainty at the risk assessment stage, decision-makers may have to rely on expert judgement and weight-of-evidence, taking into account the precautionary principle and the views of relevant stake-holders. Close co-operation between the various international initiatives on POPs will be required to ensure that assessment criteria and procedures are as compatible as possible.

Analysis of tetrabromobisphenol A in a product and environmental samples

Abstract Filings from a printed circuit board were extracted and analysed for unreacted tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). About 0.7 μg free TBBPA per gram circuit board were found, corresponding to about 4 μg free TBBPA per gram of TBBPA used in the circuit board. These values are probably underestimates of the true levels due to incomplete extraction. Surficial sediments taken upstream and downstream from a plastics industry where TBBPA is used were analysed for both TBBPA and its dimethylated derivative, McTA. The TBBPA concentration was 34 ng/g dry weight upstream of the industry and 270 ng/g dry weight downstream. The corresponding concentrations of MeTA were 24 and 1500 ng/g dry weight respectively. TBBPA was also found in two sewage sludge samples analysed. One sample was collected from the sewage treatment plant that receives leach water from a landfill with wastes from the investigated plastics industry. The other sample was collected from a sewage treatment plant where no known users of TBBPA are connected. The levels of TBBPA in these samples were similar to those found in the samples upstream from the industry. During the analysis of a number of biological samples for lipophilic brominated substances, McTA has been screened, but so far no McTA has been detected.

Phthalate diesters and their metabolites in human breast milk, blood or serum, and urine as biomarkers of exposure in vulnerable populations

Background Phthalates may pose a risk for perinatal developmental effects. An important question relates to the choice of suitable biological matrices for assessing exposure during this period. Objectives This study was designed to measure the concentrations of phthalate diesters or their metabolites in breast milk, blood or serum, and urine and to evaluate their suitability for assessing perinatal exposure to phthalates. Methods In 2001, 2–3 weeks after delivery, 42 Swedish primipara provided breast milk, blood, and urine samples at home. Special care was taken to minimize contamination with phthalates (e.g., use of a special breast milk pump, heat treatment of glassware and needles, addition of phosphoric acid). Results Phthalate diesters and metabolites in milk and blood or serum, if detected, were present at concentrations close to the limit of detection. By contrast, most phthalate metabolites were detectable in urine at concentrations comparable to those from the general population in the United States and in Germany. No correlations existed between urine concentrations and those found in milk or blood/serum for single phthalate metabolites. Our data are at odds with a previous study documenting frequent detection and comparatively high concentrations of phthalate metabolites in Finnish and Danish mothers’ milk. Conclusions Concentrations of phthalate metabolites in urine are more informative than those in milk or serum. Furthermore, collection of milk or blood may be associated with discomfort and potential technical problems such as contamination (unless oxidative metabolites are measured). Although urine is a suitable matrix for health-related phthalate monitoring, urinary concentrations in nursing mothers cannot be used to estimate exposure to phthalates through milk ingestion by breast-fed infants.

Brominated flame retardants ― ubiquitous environmental pollutants?

Abstract Biological samples from marine environments have been analyzed with a technique selectively sensitive for brominated organic compounds. All samples contained a number of such substances and some of them were characterized as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and diphenyl ethers (PBDE), respectively. The chromatographic pattern of these two groups agreed well with the corresponding patterns from two commercial flame retardants based on these types of substances. The samples analyzed so far (seal, guillemots and white-tailed sea eagle) were collected in the Baltic, the North Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The levels of PBB and PBDE were two to five times higher in samples from the Baltic than in samples from the other places, possibly indicating local sources. The presence of these compounds in samples from remote areas indicates a world-wide distribution and emphasizes the risk in the use of polyhalogenated hydrocarbons.

Chlorinated terpenes and chlordane components found in fish, guillemot and seal from Swedish waters

Abstract Fish samples from the Baltic, the North Sea and lake Vattern have been found to be contaminated with chlorinated terpenes. These compounds were also present in seal and guillemot from the Baltic at the same concentration - about 10 mg per kg fat - as in their prey, the herring. Chlordane-related compounds were also found in all samples. The most common substances were trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane, but differences could be observed between species. These organochlorine pesticides are not used in Sweden and the probable explanation for their presence in a Swedish lake is air transportation.

Analysis of Toxaphene (PCC) and Chlordane in Biological Samples by NCI Mass Spectrometry

Several recent reports indicate that both toxaphene (polychlorocamphene, PCC) and chlordane are widespread pollutants in our environment. These insecticides, both complex mixtures of chlorinated hydrocarbons, are difficult to separate from each other. Thus the analyses of them in environmental samples are difficult and furthermore complicated by interferences from other chlorinated hydrocarbons such as PCB and DDT compounds. Mass fragmentography using the negative ions formed by chemical ionization proved to be useful to selectively detect the toxaphenes and the chlordanes without interferences from DDT. High concentrations of PCB still influence on the results and have to be removed in the clean-up procedure.

Isolation of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls by electron donor—acceptor high-performance liquid chromatography on a 2-(1-prenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column

A rapid and simple liquid chromatographic method for the isolation of toxic planar polychlorinated biphenyls from their formulations by electron donor-acceptor high-performance liquid chromatography using a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column is described. The separation takes less than 15 min and a complete analysis, including quantitation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or gas chromatography with electron-capture detection, may be completed in 60 min. Retention data for 105 individual polychlorinated biphenyl congeners are presented and the retention behaviour, as well as the mechanisms of separation, are discussed.

Analysis of halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban air, snow and automobile exhaust

Abstract Urban air, snow and automobile exhaust samples were extensively cleaned up by open column liquid chromatography. The appropriate fractions were analysed for halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (XPAH) by gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/NCIMS). XPAH were found in all three sample types. A urban air sample was found to contain chlorinated pyrenes, fluoranthenes and benzopyrene and brominated pyrenes and fluoranthenes. Furthermore, the concentration of 1-chloropyrene in that air sample was estimated to be 10 pg/m3. XPAH were also found in snow samples taken in the vicinity of a motor-way. Ethylene dibromide and ethylene dichloride, are probably the source of the halogen atoms in the XPAH detected in car exhaust.

Analysis of polychlorinated naphthalenes in environmental samples

Abstract A method for the analysis of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) has been developed. It is based on a simple clean-up procedure using activated carbon and a mass fragmentographic analysis using the negative ions formed during chemical ionization (NCI). Unlike the technical PCN products we have analyzed, a few isomerides containing four to six chlorine atoms dominate the PCN pattern in the environmental samples. The levels found in samples of biota from fresh water and marine environments in Sweden were between 3 and 62 ng PCN per gram lipid.