Identification of Novel Halogenated Organic Contaminants in the Great Lakes Fish by GCxGC-HR-ToF MS

Session: Poster session

Aikebaier Renaguli, Clarkson University, [email protected]
Sujan Fernando, Clarkson University, [email protected]
Bernard Crimmins, Clarkson University, [email protected]
Thomas Holsen, Dept. Civil & Environ. Eng., Clarkson University, [email protected]
Philip Hopke, Clarkson University, [email protected]
Michael Milligan, SUNY Fredonia, Dept. of Chemistry, [email protected]
James Pagano, SUNY @ Oswego, Environmental Research Center, [email protected]

Abstract

The Great Lakes are impacted by numerous chemical contaminants by the industries, agricultural land and urban centers that surround it. Atmospheric deposition of contaminants from long range transport also has a significant impact on these bodies of water. As a result, the surveillance for emerging chemicals in top predator fish has become an important part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lake Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP). However, isolation and identification of halogenated species in fish is a major challenge due to the complexity of the biological matrix. A non-targeted screening method was developed and applied to lake trout using a multi-dimensional gas chromatograph coupled to a high resolution time of flight mass spectrometer (GCxGC-HR-ToF MS). More than 60 novel halogenated species were identified. The majority of components detected appear to be metabolites or break-down products of larger halogenated organics. The most abundant chemical class detected was halomethoxyphenols and accounted for more than 60% of the total concentration of halogenated compounds in lake trout from all five Great Lakes. Moreover, around one third of these novel halogenated compounds were detected in selective archived fish samples dating back to 1978 indicating their existence in the Great Lakes for decades.

1. Keyword
fish

2. Keyword
environmental contaminants

3. Keyword
mass spectrometry

4. Additional Keyword
Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography