What is in the fish? Collaborative trial in suspect and non-target screening of organic micropollutants using LC- and GC-HRMS

A collaborative trial involving 16 participants from nine European countries was conducted within the NORMAN network in efforts to harmonise suspect and non-target screening of environmental contaminants in whole fish samples of bream (Abramis brama). Participants were provided with freeze-dried, homogenised fish samples from a contaminated and a reference site, extracts (spiked and non-spiked) and reference sample preparation protocols for liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Participants extracted fish samples using their in-house sample preparation method and/or the protocol provided. Participants correctly identified 9-69% of spiked compounds using LC-HRMS and 20-60% of spiked compounds using GC-HRMS. From the contaminated site, suspect screening with participants’ own suspect lists led to putative identification of on average ∼145 and ∼20 unique features per participant using LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS, respectively, while non-target screening identified on average ∼42 and ∼56 unique features per participant using LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS, respectively. Within the same sub-group of sample preparation method, only a few features were identified by at least two participants in suspect screening (16 features using LC-HRMS, 0 features using GC-HRMS) and non-target screening (0 features using LC-HRMS, 2 features using GC-HRMS). The compounds identified had log octanol/water partition coefficient (KOW) values ranging from -9.9 to 16 and mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 68 to 761 (LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS). A significant linear trend was found between log KOW and m/z for the GC-HRMS data. Overall, these findings indicate that differences in screening results are mainly due to the data analysis workflows used by different participants. Further work is needed to harmonise the results obtained when applying suspect and non-target screening approaches to environmental biota samples.

Keyword(s)

Suspect and non-target analysis, Biota, LC-HRMS, GC-HRMS, Collaborative trial, Exposome

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243 Mo
Supplementary data 1.
-3 Mo
Supplementary data 2.
-778 Ko
Supplementary data 3.
-424 Ko
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Dürig Wiebke, Lindblad Sofia, Golovko Oksana, Gkotsis Georgios, Aalizadeh Reza, Nika Maria-Christina, Thomaidis Nikolaos, Alygizakis Nikiforos A., Plassmann Merle, Haglund Peter, Fu Qiuguo, Hollender Juliane, Chaker Jade, David Arthur, Kunkel Uwe, Macherius André, Belova Lidia, Poma Giulia, Preud'Homme Hugues, Munschy Catherine, Aminot Yann, Jaeger Carsten, Lisec Jan, Hansen Martin, Vorkamp Katrin, Zhu Linyan, Cappelli Francesca, Roscioli Claudio, Valsecchi Sara, Bagnati Renzo, González Belén, Prieto Ailette, Zuloaga Olatz, Gil-Solsona Ruben, Gago-Ferrero Pablo, Rodriguez-Mozaz Sara, Budzinski Hélène, Devier Marie-Helene, Dierkes Georg, Boulard Lise, Jacobs Griet, Voorspoels Stefan, Rüdel Heinz, Ahrens Lutz (2023). What is in the fish? Collaborative trial in suspect and non-target screening of organic micropollutants using LC- and GC-HRMS. Environment International. 181. 108288 (11p.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108288, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00858/97018/

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