Quantitative determination of ultra-trace carbazoles in sediments in the coastal environment
Journal
Chemosphere
Journal Volume
150
Pages
586
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Zhiyong Xie
Hendrik Wolschke
Juergen Gandrass
Danijela Kötke
Magnus Winkelmann
Ralf Ebinghaus
Abstract
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Carbazole and some of its derivatives may possess dioxin-like toxicity and could be persistent in the environment, but information on their distribution and environmental fate is limited. This study developed and validated an ultra-trace targeted-analysis method for the determination of carbazole, 1,2-benzocarbazole, and 13 halogenated carbazoles in sediments from the river, coast, and North Sea. An 8-g sediment sample was extracted using accelerated solvent extraction combined with in-cell cleanup and analyzed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was sensitive and reliable with method detection limits ranging from 4.54 to 52.9 pg/g, and most of the quantification biases and relative standard deviations were <20 and <15%, respectively. Carbazole and 1,2-benzocarbazole were the predominant substances in the sediments (median 565 and 369 pg/g, respectively) followed by 3,6-dichlorocarbazole (median 196 pg/g). The detection frequencies of carbazole, benzo-, 3-chloro-, and 3,6-dichlorocarbazole were >75%, while those of 3,6-dibromo-, 1-bromo-3,6-dichloro-, and 1,8-dibromo-3,6-dichlorocarbazole were approximately 50%. Brominated carbazoles occurred more frequently in marine than river-influenced sediments, which could indicate halogenation after discharge into the river. This is the first study regarding these substances in coastal environments without apparent contamination history. The ubiquity and bioaccumulative potential of these substances needs to be considered.
Subjects
Halogenated carbazole; Ultra-trace targeted analysis; Sediment; Coastal area
Other Subjects
Coastal zones; Gas chromatography; Halogenation; Mass spectrometry; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Rivers; Sediments; Solvent extraction; Accelerated solvent extraction; Coastal area; Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; Halogenated carbazole; Method detection limits; Quantitative determinations; Relative standard deviations; Ultratraces; Trace analysis; carbazole derivative; 1,3,6,8-tetrabromocarbazole; 3,6-dichlorocarbazole; carbazole derivative; sea water; water pollutant; aromatic hydrocarbon; coastal sediment; coastal zone; discharge; environmental fate; environmental monitoring; quantitative analysis; sediment chemistry; sediment pollution; solvent; toxicity; trace element; Article; coal mining; coastal waters; collisionally activated dissociation; environmental impact; halogenation; limit of detection; quantitative analysis; seashore; sediment; sewage treatment plant; signal noise ratio; solvent extraction; total organic carbon; water contamination; analysis; chemistry; Germany; mass fragmentography; North Sea; river; sediment; tandem mass spectrometry; water pollutant; Atlantic Ocean; North Sea; Carbazoles; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Geologic Sediments; Germany; Halogenation; Limit of Detection; North Sea; Rivers; Seawater; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Water Pollutants, Chemical
Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Type
journal article