Filtern
Erscheinungsjahr
Dokumenttyp
- Zeitschriftenartikel (98)
- Posterpräsentation (11)
- Beitrag zu einem Sammelband (1)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (1)
- Corrigendum (1)
- Vortrag (1)
- Sonstiges (1)
- Forschungsbericht (1)
- Forschungsdatensatz (1)
Sprache
- Englisch (116) (entfernen)
Schlagworte
- Mycotoxins (15)
- Food (10)
- Electrochemistry (8)
- Quality assurance (8)
- Zearalenone (8)
- LC-MS/MS (7)
- Mycotoxin (7)
- HPLC-MS/MS (6)
- Deoxynivalenol (5)
- Crystal structure (4)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (44)
- 1.7 Organische Spuren- und Lebensmittelanalytik (44)
- 1.6 Anorganische Referenzmaterialien (5)
- 6 Materialchemie (4)
- 1.2 Biophotonik (3)
- 4 Material und Umwelt (3)
- 6.3 Strukturanalytik (3)
- 1.1 Anorganische Spurenanalytik (2)
- 1.4 Prozessanalytik (2)
- 1.8 Umweltanalytik (2)
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (1)
Toxin-producing cyanobacterial species are increasingly being found in freshwater systems. However, literature on the impact of many cyanobacterial toxins on plants is scarce. Cylindrospermosin (CYN), a secondary metabolite of cyanobacteria such as Cylindrospermopsis and Aphanizomenon species, is a potent hepatotoxin and protein synthesis inhibitor. Worryingly, CYN is increasingly found in surface and drinking water worldwide causing human and animal intoxications. Further, exposure of crop plants to CYN by irrigation with contaminated water has already been shown. Therefore, in this study, horticulturally important and highly consumed Brassica species were investigated to determine the level of CYN in the leaves after exposure of the roots to the toxin. Treatment of Brassica oleracea var. sabellica, Brassica juncea, and Sinapis alba under varying experimental conditions showed significant CYN uptake, with CYN levels ranging from 10% to 21% in the leaves compared to the CYN concentration applied to the roots (18–35 µg/l). In seedlings, CYN concentrations of up to 49 µg/g fresh weight were observed. Thus, crop plants irrigated with CYN-containing water may represent a significant source of this toxin within the food chain.
For more than 110 years, BAM has been producing reference materials for a wide range of application fields. With the development of new analytical methods and new applications as well as continuously emerging more stringent requirements of laboratory accreditation with regard to quality control and metrological traceability, the demand and requirements for reference materials are increasing. This trend article gives an overview of general developments in the field of reference materials as well as developments in selected fields of application in which BAM is active. This includes inorganic and metal analysis, gas analysis, food and consumer products, and geological samples. In addition to these more traditional fields of application, developments in the areas of optical spectroscopy, particulary fluorescence methods, and nanomaterials are considered.
The formation of transformation products (TPs) from contaminants and residues is becoming an increasing focus of scientific community. All organic compounds can form different TPs, thus demonstrating the complexity and interdisciplinarity of this topic. The properties of TPs could stand in relation to the unchanged substance or be more harmful and persistent. To get important information about the generated TPs, methods are needed to simulate natural and manmade transformation processes. Current tools are based on metabolism studies, photochemical methods, electrochemical methods, and Fenton's reagent. Finally, most transformation processes are based on redox reactions. This review aims to compare these methods for structurally different compounds. The groups of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, brominated flame retardants, and mycotoxins were selected as important residues/contaminants relating to their worldwide occurrence and impact to health, food, and environmental safety issues. Thus, there is an increasing need for investigation of transformation processes and identification of TPs by fast and reliable methods.
To keep pace with the rising number of detected mycotoxins, there is a growing need for fast and reliable toxicity tests to assess the potential threat to food safety. Toxicity tests with the bacterial-feeding nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism are well established. In this study the C. elegans wildtype strain N2 (var. Bristol) was used to investigate the toxic effects of the food-relevant mycotoxins citrinin (CIT) and zearalenone-14-sulfate (ZEA-14-S) and zearalenone (ZEA) on different life cycle parameters including reproduction, thermal and oxidative stress resistance and lifespan. The metabolization of the mycotoxins by the nematodes in vivo was investigated using HPLC-MS/MS. ZEA was metabolized in vivo to the reduced isomers α-zearalenol (α-ZEL) and β-ZEL. ZEA 14-S was reduced to α-/β-ZEL 14-sulfate and CIT was metabolized to mono-hydroxylated CIT. All mycotoxins tested led to a significant decrease in the number of nematode offspring produced. ZEA and CIT displayed negative effects on stress tolerance levels and for CIT an additional shortening of the mean lifespan was observed. In the case of ZEA-14-S, however, the mean lifespan was prolonged. The presented study shows the applicability of C. elegans for toxicity testing of emerging food mycotoxins for the purpose of assigning potential health threats.
Aim: To observe the variation in accumulation of Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins across a topographically heterogeneous field and tested biotic (fungal and bacterial abundance) and abiotic (microclimate) parameters as explanatory variables.
Methods and Results: We selected a wheat field characterized by a diversified topography, to be responsible for variations in productivity and in canopy-driven microclimate. Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins where quantified in wheat ears at three sampling dates between flowering and harvest at 40 points.
Tenuazonic acid (TeA), alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol-3-Glucoside (DON.3G) were quantified. In canopy temperature, air and soil humidity were recorded for each point with data-loggers. Fusarium spp. as trichothecene producers, Alternaria spp. and fungal abundances were assessed using qPCR. Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria were quantified with a culture based method. We only found DON, DON.3G, TeA and TEN to be ubiquitous across the whole field, while AME, AOH and ZEN were only occasionally detected. Fusarium was more abundant in spots with high soil humidity, while Alternaria in warmer and drier spots. Mycotoxins correlated differently to the observed explanatory variables: positive correlations between DON accumulation, tri 5 gene and Fusarium abundance were clearly detected.
The correlations among the others observed variables, such as microclimatic conditions, varied among the sampling dates. The results of statistical model identification do not exclude that species coexistence could influence mycotoxin production.
Conclusions: Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins accumulation varies heavily across the field and the sampling dates, providing the realism of landscapescale studies. Mycotoxin concentrations appear to be partially explained by biotic and abiotic variables.
Significance and Impact of the Study: We provide a useful experimental design and useful data for understanding the dynamics of mycotoxin biosynthesis in wheat.
Trichothecene mycotoxins, with T-2 and HT-2 toxins being the main representatives of the type A subgroup, are naturally and worldwide occurring contaminants frequently found in grain-based food and feed. Due to the high consumption of these products and the potential health risk associated herewith, concerns about the safety and quality of food and feed have increased over the last decades at both governmental and consumer levels. Since it is not possible to avoid their occurrence, tremendous efforts have been performed to identify and monitor mycotoxins in food and feed to make their consumption safe. However, suitable certified reference materials (CRMs) intended for quality assurance and quality control purposes are still lacking for many mycotoxin-matrix combinations. Therefore, in the framework of a European Reference Material (ERM®) project, the first CRM for T-2 and HT-2 toxin in ground oat flakes (ERM®-BC720) was developed according to the requirements of ISO Guide 35. The whole process of ERM®-BC720 development, including sample preparation, homogeneity and stability studies and value assignment, is presented. The assignment of the certified mass fractions was based upon an in-house study using high-performance liquid chromatography isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Simultaneously, an interlaboratory comparison study involving 24 expert laboratories was conducted in order to support the in-house certification study. The certified values and their corresponding expanded uncertainties (k=2) for both T-2 and HT-2 toxin in ERM®-BC720, traceable to the international system of units, are (82±4) µg kg-1 and (81±4) µg kg-1, respectively.
A new dimer of the food-relevant mycotoxin zearalenone was isolated after electrochemical and chemical oxidation. The structure was determined as a 16-O-15'-biaryl ether-linked dimer based on spectroscopic analyses (1H- and 13C-NMR, COSY, HMBC, and HSQCAD) and high-Resolution mass spectrometry analysis (Q-TOF).
Moxidectin (MOX) is a widely used anthelmintic drug for the treatment of internal and external parasites in food-producing and companion animals. Transformation products (TPs) of MOX, formed through metabolic degradation or acid hydrolysis, May pose a potential environmental risk, but only few were identified so far. In this study, we therefore systematically characterized electro- and photochemically generatedMOX TPs using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Oxidative electrochemical (EC) TPs were generated in an electrochemical reactor and photochemical (PC) TPs by irradiation with UV-C light. Subsequent HRMS measurements were performed to identify accuratemasses and deduce occurring modification reactions of derived TPs in a suspected target analysis. In total, 26 EC TPs and 59 PC TPs were found. The main modification reactions were hydroxylation, (de-)hydration, and derivative formation with methanol for EC experiments and isomeric changes, (de-)hydration, and changes at the methoxime moiety for PC experiments. In addition, several combinations of different modification reactions were identified.
For 17 TPs, we could predict chemical structures through interpretation of acquired MS/MS data. Most modifications could be linked to two specific regions of MOX. Some previously described metabolic reactions like hydroxylation or O-demethylation were confirmed in our EC and PC experiments as reaction type, but the corresponding TPs were not identical to known metabolites or degradation products. The obtained knowledge regarding novel TPs and reactions will aid to elucidate the degradation pathway of MOX which is currently unknown.
Oxidative degradation processes of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a brominated flame retardant (BFR) in wood, plastics and electronics, were investigated by electrochemistry (EC) coupled online to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). Oxidative phase I and II metabolites production was achieved using an electrochemical flow-through cell equipped with a boron doped diamond electrode. Structural elucidation and prediction of oxidative metabolism pathways of TBBPA according to type II ipso-substitution were based on retention time, m/z ratio in negative mode and fragmentation pattern. Using the data obtained through high resolution MS analysis and the identification of single electron transfer (SET) as the initial step of a two-electron oxidation provided the necessary information to propose a mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of TBBPA. Oxidation reactions involving aromatic hydroxylation and β-scission were the main degradation observed when studying the electrochemical behavior of TBBPA. Computational chemistry experiments using density functional theory (DFT) allowed to identify mono-hydroxylated reaction intermediate and dismissed the mechanism involving two concurrent hydroxylation. TBBPA oxidation products were compared to known metabolites of its biological and environmental degradation confirming the ability of electrochemistry to simulate β-scission reactions.
The expansive production of data in materials science, their widespread sharing and repurposing requires educated support and stewardship. In order to ensure that this need helps rather than hinders scientific work, the implementation of the FAIR-data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) must not be too narrow. Besides, the wider materials-science community ought to agree on the strategies to tackle the challenges that are specific to its data, both from computations and experiments. In this paper, we present the result of the discussions held at the workshop on “Shared Metadata and Data Formats for Big-Data Driven Materials Science”. We start from an operative definition of metadata, and the features that a FAIR-compliant metadata schema should have. We will mainly focus on computational materials-science data and propose a constructive approach for the FAIRification of the (meta)data related to ground-state and excited-states calculations, potential-energy sampling, and generalized workflows. Finally, challenges with the FAIRification of experimental (meta)data and materials-science ontologies are presented together with an outlook of how to meet them.
The presence of any aflatoxin contamination in exported figs needs to be monitored and measured through reliable and traceable methods, which require pure and matrix certified reference materials. On the other hand, certified reference materials (CRM) for determination of aflatoxins in dried fig are not yet available. Moreover, there is a lack of CRMs to be used in routine testing laboratories for method validation and quality control. The routine testing laboratories, participating in commercial proficiency testing (PT) programs, use the results available from consensus values to evaluate the performance of the participating laboratories, rather than metrologically traceable assigned values. This study initially proposed as a key comparison and presented at the EURAMET TC-MC SCOA meeting in Malta in 2015 and subsequently at the CCQM OAWG meeting in April 2015, proposes a CRM candidate for determination of levels of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and their total in dried. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons are needed to document measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs).
In total nine NMI/DI participated in the Track C Key Comparison CCQM-K138 Determination of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and Total AFs) in Dried Fig. Participants were requested to evaluate the mass fractions expressed in ng/g units, of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and total aflatoxin in a dried food matrix, dried fig. The CCQM-K138 results for the determination of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and total AFs) are ranging from 5.17 to 7.27 ng/g with an %RSD of 10.47 for AFB1, ranging from 0.60 to 0.871 ng/g with an %RSD of 11.69 for AFB2, ranging from 1.98 to 2.6 ng/g with an %RSD of 10.36 for AFG1, ranging from 0.06 to 0.32 ng/g with an %RSD of 35.6 for AFG2, and ranging from 8.29 to 10.31 ng/g with an %RSD of 7.69 for Total AFs. All participants based their analyses on LC-MS/MS, HPLC-FLD, HR-LC/MS, and IDMS. Brief descriptions of the analytical methods used by the participants, including sample preparation, analytical technique, calibrants, and quantification approach are summarized in Appendix F. Linear Pool was used to assign the Key Comparison Reference Values (KCRVs) for B1, B2, G1, G2 and total aflatoxins. Due to the traceability requirements for the calibrants not being met, results of KEBS, INTI, VNIIM and BAM were excluded from KCRV determination.
Successful participation in CCQM-K138 demonstrates the following measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with molecular mass of 100 g/mol to 500 g/mol, having high polarity (pKow > -2), in mass fraction range from 0.05 ng/g to 500 ng/g in dried food matrices.
rac-2,3-Dibromopropionamide
(2013)
The racemic title compound, C3H5Br2NO, was crystallized from methanol. In the crystal, adjacent molecules are linked through N–H···O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the c-axis direction. These chains are linked through N–H···O hydrogen bonds, forming an undulating two-dimensional network lying parallel to the bc plane. There are also short Br···Br contacts present [3.514 (3) Å].
Due to the utilisation of 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFE) as extraction solvent the IR-spectrometric determination of total petrol hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil according to ISO/TR 11046 has been replaced by gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection (GC/FID) after extraction with a halogen-free solvent according to ISO/DIS 16703:2001. The results obtained with both methods by field laboratories in three proficiency testing (PT) rounds are compared. The consensus means obtained with GC/FID are typically 10%-20% (ranging between 0% and 25%) higher than those found with IR-spectroscopy. On the contrary, coefficients of variation (CV) are roughly double in case of GC/FID and are briefly discussed against the background of the Horwitz equation.
Tenuazonic acid (TA) is a major water soluble Alternaria mycotoxin. In the present work, a method for the quantification of TA in beer by liquid chromatography-ion-trap multistage mass spectrometry after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine is described. The method is based on a rapid workup procedure and features a LOD of 2 µg/kg without preconcentration using 400 mg of sample. Validation was performed for a working range of 8-500 µg/kg.
A total of 43 beers of different brewing styles (pilsener, wheat beer, bock beer, dark beer and alcohol free beer) was analysed. TA was detected in 37 samples, 16 samples were above the LOQ. An average content of 11 µg/kg was found, the highest incidence being 175 ± 13 µg/kg. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of TA in beer and beverages in general.
A procedure for the quantification of the PCB marker congeners 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180 in plastic waste form the recycling of cables in the range of content between 0.1 mg kg-1 and 20 mg kg-1 was validated. Representative reference materials for laboratory analyses were produced using granulates from different recycling processes. The method development included aspects of grinding, sieving, homogenising as well as the comparison of extraction methods and chromatographic conditions. The validated procedure foresees grinding of the technical sample to an upper particle size limit of 0.50 mm followed by extraction with an unpolar solvent such as n-hexane and gas chromatographic determination. LOD and LOQ for individual congeners ranged between 0.01 mg kg-1 and 0.08 mg kg-1. Electron capture detection (ECD) and mass selective detection (MS) were equivalent if chromatographic conditions were appropriately selected. The application of MS was advantageous in presence of significant amounts of interfering components which have been found in some cables.
Three reference materials containing the marker congeners in the range of 0.1 mg kg-15 mg kg-1 were submitted to a final validation intercomparison with 23 selected field laboratories using the developed method. Relative reproducibility standard deviations varied between 15% and 33%.
Ergot alkaloids are a group of mycotoxins occurring in products derived from various grasses (e.g., rye) and have been regulated in the EU recently. The new maximum levels refer to the sum of the six most common ergot alkaloids in their two stereoisomeric forms in different food matrices. Typically, these twelve compounds are individually quantified via HPLC-MS/MS or -FLD and subsequently summed up to evaluate food safety in a time-consuming process. Since all these structures share the same ergoline backbone, we developed a novel sum parameter method (SPM) targeting all ergot alkaloids simultaneously via lysergic acid hydrazide. After extraction and clean-up, in analogy to the current European standard method EN 17425 (ESM) for ergot alkaloid quantitation, the samples were derivatized by an optimized hydrazinolysis protocol, which allowed quantitative conversion after 20 min at 100 °C. The new SPM was evaluated against another established HPLC-FLD-based method (LFGB) and the HPLC-MS/MS-based ESM using six naturally contaminated rye and wheat matrix reference materials. While the SPM provided comparable values to the ESM, LFGB showed deviating results. Determined recovery rates, limits of detection and quantification of all three employed methods confirm that the new SPM is a promising alternative to the classical approaches for ergot alkaloid screening in food.
Harmonized and interoperable national Quality Infrastructure (QI) systems are essential for fostering cooperation, promoting mutual trust, and facilitating trade. The true potential of the QI is realized when its elements and actors are seamlessly integrated into a cohesive digital QI ecosystem. Recent developments towards industrial international data spaces enable such an ecosystem but require the integration of QI principles. Recognizing the lack of such a platform, Quality-X aims at setting the stage for the implementation of a QI ecosystem in international data spaces (IDS), GAIA-X and related German and European projects dedicated to secure data sharing. Quality-X is not about the construction of a platform; it is the creation of an inclusive QI ecosystem with harmonized interfaces. Instead of imposing rigid data structures, it prioritizes interoperability. Through the utilization of Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), Verifiable Credentials, and Identity Hubs, Quality-X seeks seamless interactions across diverse service provider systems.
This white paper introduces the concept and vision of Quality-X and discusses the general prerequisites for integrating QI processes within data spaces. Further on, we introduce existing testbeds, which will serve as an experimental proving ground for exploring various use cases related to the implementation of the vision of a QI-Digital.
+++
Harmonisierte und interoperable nationale Qualitätsinfrastrukturen (QI) sind für die Förderung der Zusammenarbeit, des gegenseitigen Vertrauens und der Erleichterung des Handels unerlässlich. Das wahre Potenzial der QI kommt zum Tragen, wenn ihre Elemente und Akteure nahtlos in ein kohärentes digitales QI-Ökosystem integriert werden. Die jüngsten Entwicklungen hin zu industriellen internationalen Datenräumen ermöglichen ein solches Ökosystem, erfordern jedoch die Integration von QI-Prinzipien. Angesichts des Fehlens einer solchen Plattform zielt Quality-X darauf ab, die Voraussetzungen für die Umsetzung eines QI-Ökosystems in internationalen Datenräumen (IDS), GAIA-X und verwandten deutschen und europäischen Projekten zum sicheren Datenaustausch zu schaffen. Bei Quality-X geht es nicht um den Aufbau einer Plattform, sondern um die Schaffung eines umfassenden QI-Ökosystems mit harmonisierten Schnittstellen. Anstatt starre Datenstrukturen aufzuerlegen, steht die Interoperabilität im Vordergrund. Durch die Verwendung von dezentralen Identifikatoren (DIDs), überprüfbaren Berechtigungsnachweisen und Identitäts-Hubs strebt Quality-X eine nahtlose Interaktion zwischen verschiedenen Systemen von Dienstleistern an.
Dieses Whitepaper stellt das Konzept und die Vision von Quality-X vor und erörtert die allgemeinen Voraussetzungen für die Integration von QI-Prozessen in Datenräumen. Darüber hinaus stellen wir bestehende Testbeds vor, die als experimentelles Versuchsfeld für die Erforschung verschiedener Anwendungsfälle im Zusammenhang mit der Umsetzung der Vision einer QI-Digital dienen sollen.
Es werden die Arbeiten und aktuellen Ergebnisse zum Proficiency Test (PT)-Projekt "PAH in toys rubber" vorgestellt. Der PT wurde von der BAM organisiert und erfolgte im Rahmen der deutsch-chinesischen Arbeitsgruppe "Produktsicherheit" (BMWi/AQSIQ). Ziel des PT war es, die Messfähigkeiten deutscher und chinesischer Laboratorien hinsichtlich PAK in Spielzeugprodukten zu bewerten. Hintergrund sind neue PAK-Grenzwerte für Verbraucherprodukte und Spielzeug seit 27.12.2015 (EU-Verordnung 1272/2013). Neben der Herstellung und Charakterisierung des "PAK in Gummi" Referenzmaterials werden im Vortrag die Labor-Ergebnisse vorgestellt, die statistische Auswertung präsentiert und eine Bewertung der verwendeten Analysenverfahren vorgenommen.
Pure U-[13C18]-labelled cis-zearalenone (cis-ZEA) has been prepared and characterised as internal standard (ISTD) for a reliable quantification of cis-ZEA in contaminated food and feed products. The cis-isomer of the naturally trans-configurated Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone is often neglected. However, isomerisation easily occurs by exposure of ZEA to (UV-)light. Thus, the applicability of the new cis-ZEA ISTD was demonstrated in a long-term isomerisation study comparing naturally trans-ZEA-contaminated edible oil with spiked edible oil. To estimate the benefits of the newly prepared cis-ZEA ISTD, various approaches to quantify cis-ZEA by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) were compared. As a result, a significant bias was revealed if no appropriate cis-ZEA standards are used. Furthermore, the new ISTD was applied to the analysis of 15 edible oils by stable isotope dilution analysis in combination with HPLC-electrospray ionisation-MS/MS. One of the maize germ oils showed the presence of cis-ZEA above LOD (>0.3 µg/kg), whereas two out of 15 maize germ oils were found to be contaminated with trans-ZEA (range 17.0-31.0 µg/kg).
The knowledge of transformation pathways and identification of transformation products (TPs) of veterinary drugs is important for animal health, food, and environmental matters. The active agent Monensin (MON) belongs to the ionophore antibiotics and is widely used as a veterinary drug against coccidiosis in broiler farming. However, no electrochemically (EC) generated TPs of MON have been described so far. In this study, the online coupling of EC and mass spectrometry (MS) was used for the generation of oxidative TPs. EC-conditions were optimized with respect to working electrode material, solvent, modifier, and potential polarity. Subsequent LC/HRMS (liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry) and MS/MS experiments were performed to identify the structures of derived TPs by a suspected target analysis. The obtained EC-results were compared to TPs observed in metabolism tests with microsomes and hydrolysis experiments of MON.
Five previously undescribed TPs of MON were identified in our EC/MS based study and one TP, which was already known from literature and found by a microsomal assay, could be confirmed.
Two and three further TPs were found as products in microsomal tests and following hydrolysis, respectively. We found decarboxylation, O-demethylation and acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions to be the major mechanisms of MON transformation.
Biotransformation processes of fluopyram (FLP), a new succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide, were investigated by electrochemistry (EC) coupled online to liquid chromatography (LC) and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Oxidative phase I metabolite production was achieved using an electrochemical flow-through cell equipped with a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode. Structural elucidation and prediction of oxidative metabolism pathways were assured by retention time, isotopic patterns, fragmentation, and accurate mass measurements using EC/LC/MS, LC-MS/MS, and/or high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The results obtained by EC were compared with conventional in vitro studies by incubating FLP with rat and human liver microsomes (RLM, HLM). Known phase I metabolites of FLP (benzamide, benzoic acid, 7-hydroxyl, 8-hydroxyl, 7,8-dihydroxyl FLP, lactam FLP, pyridyl acetic acid, and Z/E-olefin FLP) were successfully simulated by EC/LC/MS. New metabolites including an imide, hydroxyl lactam, and 7-hydroxyl pyridyl acetic acid oxidative metabolites were predicted for the first time in our study using EC/LC/MS and liver microsomes. We found oxidation by dechlorination to be one of the major metabolism mechanisms of FLP. Thus, our results revealed that EC/LC/MS-based metabolic elucidation was more advantageous on time and cost of analysis and enabled matrix-free detection with valuable information about the mechanisms and intermediates of metabolism processes.
Photodegradation of the „novel“ brominated flame retardant tris-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-s-triazine
(2016)
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) comprise a class of structurally diverse compounds that are functionally related and used in materials to reduce the flammability of polymers. Due to their global distribution, potential persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity most of the BFRs of the first Generation are banned or restricted, and replaced by new ones. However, based on similar properties these new compounds may also pose a serious risk by causing adverse effects to human health and the environment.
These alternative BFRs were grouped into two classes: „novel” and „emerging” BFRs. Emerging BFRs are defined as compounds that have been identified in any environmental compartments whereas novel BFRs are only detected in materials and/or goods above 0.1 wt.-%.
The environmental fate of these alternative BFRs is partially unknown. Over the past years a multitude of studies on the photodegradation of BFRs in environmental matrices have been conducted to assess the photochemical behavior and fate in the environment. The photolytic debromination reaction is particularly induced among BFRs by UV exposure.
The novel brominated triazine-based flame retardant tris-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-s-triazine (TTBPTAZ) (Table 1) is a BFR that is mainly used in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and high impact polystyrene.
Ballesteros-Gómez et al. detected TTBP-TAZ in 8 of 13 plastic parts of consumer products and in 9 of 17 indoor dust samples but the photochemical behavior and fate is not known until now.
The results of the present study, focused on photodegradation processes were performed for the first time for TTBP-TAZ to identify the photolysis intermediates and products to assess the environmental fate.
The emphasis of the present work was to investigate the photochemical conversion of trans- to cis-zearalenone in edible oils under real-life conditions. For quantitation purposes a cis-zearalenone standard was synthesized and characterized for its identity and purity (≥95%) by 1H NMR, X-ray crystallography, HPLC fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection. In a sample survey of 12 edible oils (9 corn oils, 3 hempseed oils) from local supermarkets all corn oils contained trans-zearalenone (median 194 µg/kg), but no cis-zearalenone was detected. For alteration studies trans-zearalenone contaminated corn oils were exposed to sunlight over 4 and 30 weeks, revealing an obvious shift toward cis-zearalenone up to a cis/trans ratio of 9:1 by storage in colorless glass bottles. Irradiation experiments of trans-zearalenone in different organic solvents confirmed the preferred formation of cis-zearalenone possibly caused by entropic effects rather than by enthalpic entities as investigated by quantum chemical and classical force field simulations.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of interest in many different fields. Among them are food and fragrance analysis, environmental and atmospheric research, industrial applications, security or medical and life science. In the past, the characterization of these compounds was mostly performed via sample collection and off-site analysis with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as the gold standard. While powerful, this method also has several drawbacks such as being slow, expensive, and demanding on the user. For decades, intense research has been dedicated to find methods for fast VOC analysis on-site with time and spatial resolution. We present the working principles of the most important, utilized, and researched technologies for this purpose and highlight important publications from the last five years. In this overview, non-selective gas sensors, electronic noses, spectroscopic methods, miniaturized gas chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry and direct injection mass spectrometry are covered. The advantages and limitations of the different methods are compared. Finally, we give our outlook into the future progression of this field of research.
The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of zearalenone in wheat kernels contaminated with this mycotoxin. Kernels from a sample of a wheat harvest affected by Fusarium culmorum were sorted into six groups according to their visual attributes. Milled portions of these groups were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence and diode array detection. The clean-up was performed with an immunoaffinity column after methanol/water (4:1, v/v) extraction. The zearalenone content of the unsorted kernel fraction was 74 µg/kg. The group of healthy-looking kernels was contaminated with only 6 µg/kg of zearalenone. The groups of kernels that appeared shrunken and chalky white, damage routinely caused by Fusarium, were contaminated with 170 and 117 µg/kg, respectively. A remarkably high level of zearalenone contamination, 2,184 µg/kg, was observed for the group of reddish kernels. An association between the presence of the red pigment aurofusarin and high levels of zearalenone was found. Therefore, this pigment may be used as a marker of high zearalenone content.
Ergot alkaloids and their epimer-specific determination have gained increasing importance for food safety. A solid-phase extraction and cleanup method based on sodium-neutralized strong cation exchange (Na+-SCX) was developed to quantitate 12 priority ergot alkaloids in rye flour and wheat germ oil by HPLC fluorescence analysis. Sample preparation is achieved by omitting acidic and alkaline conditions enabling minimized epimerization, which is necessary to determine ergot alkaloids according to their natural distribution in foods. Ergot alkaloids are eluted from SCX-column by forming ion pairs using a sodium hexanesulfonate containing solution which prevents epimerization for at least 96 h. Method validation yielded recoveries of 80–120% (rye flour) and 71–96% (wheat germ oil) with a maximum limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 2.0 µg kg1 per ergot alkaloid for both matrices. The applicability of the developed method was demonstrated by analyzing 16 samples from German retail markets: 9 rye flours (max 178 ± 5 µg kg1) and, reported for the first time, 7 wheat germ oils (max 56.8 ± 2.7 µg kg1) expressed as the sum of 12 ergot alkaloids.
Alternariol (AOH) and Alternariol monomethylether (AME) are two secondary metabolites of Alternaria fungi which can be found in various foodstuffs like tomatoes, nuts and grains. Due to their toxicity and potential mutagenic activity, the need for the development of high-throughput methods for the supervision of AOH- and AME-levels is of increasing interest. As the availability of both native and labelled AOH and AME analytical standards is very limited we herein wish to present a novel concise approach towards their synthesis employing a ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-arylation4 as the key step.
Identifying the fate of agrochemicals is important to understand their potential risk for living organisms. We report here new photodegradation products (PPs) of the fungicide fluopyram. The PPs were produced by irradiating a fluopyram standard in 0.1% acetonitrile aqueous media by a 150-W medium pressure Hg-lamp that emits wavelengths between 200–280 nm. The structural elucidation of PPs was achieved by combining the retention time, isotopic pattern, targeted fragmentation, and accurate mass measurements using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high resolution-MS (HRMS). In addition to previously known PPs, seven new PPs of fluopyram were identified in this work: mainly dihydroxyl and hydroxylimide fluopyram as well as mono, di, and trihydroxyl lactam. Additionally, two PPs were found to be formed by rearrangement after the loss of H2C=CH2. Hence, the results of the work contribute to extending the current knowledge regarding the photoinduced fate of agrochemicals, and fluopyram in particular.
The role of mycotoxins in the microbial competition in an ecosystem or on the same host plant is still unclear. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of mycotoxins on growth and mycotoxin production of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi. Fusarium culmorum Fc13, Fusarium graminearum Fg23 and two Alternaria tenuissima isolates (At18 and At220) were incubated on wheat kernels supplemented with alternariol (AOH), tetramic acid derivates (TeA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) in an in vitro test system. Fungal biomass was quantified by determining ergosterol content. Three Fusarium toxins (DON, nivalenol and ZEA) and three Alternaria toxins (AOH, alternariol methyl ether (AME) and altenuene) were analysed by HPLC-MS/MS. If Alternaria strains grew in wheat kernels spiked with Fusarium mycotoxins, their growth rates were moderately increased, their AOH and AME production was enhanced and they were simultaneously capable of degrading the Fusarium mycotoxins DON and ZEA. In contrast, both Fusarium strains behaved quite differently. The growth rate of Fc13 was not distinctly influenced, while Fg23 increased its growth in wheat kernels spiked with AOH. TeA depressed the ergosterol content in Fc13 as well as in Fg23. The DON production of Fc13 was slightly depressed, whereas the ZEA production was significantly increased. In contrast, Fg23 restricted its ZEA production. Both Fusarium strains were not capable of degrading the Alternaria mycotoxin AOH. Mycotoxins might play an important role in the interfungal competitive processes. They influence growth rates and mycotoxin production of the antagonistic combatants. The observed effects between phytopathogenic Alternaria and Fusarium strains and their mycotoxins aid the understanding of the complexity of microbial competitive behaviour in natural environments.
The comparison required the assignment of the mass fraction of folic acid present as the main component in the comparison sample. Performance in the comparison is representative of a laboratory's measurement capability for the purity assignment of organic compounds of medium structural complexity [molecular weight range 300–500] and high polarity (pKOW < −2).
Methods used by the eighteen participating NMIs or DIs were based on a mass balance (summation of impurities) or qNMR approach, or the combination of data obtained using both methods. The qNMR results tended to give slightly lower values for the content of folic acid, albeit with larger associated uncertainties, compared with the results obtained by mass balance procedures. Possible reasons for this divergence are discussed in the report, without reaching a definitive conclusion as to their origin.
The comparison demonstrates that for a structurally complex polar organic compound containing a high water content and presenting a number of additional analytical challenges, the assignment of the mass fraction content property value of the main component can reasonably be achieved with an associated relative standard uncertainty in the assigned value of 0.5%
The aim of this study was to identify specific truffle marker substances within the truffle aroma. The aroma profile of different truffle species was analyzed using static headspace sampling with gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (SHS/GC-MS). Possible marker substances were identified, taking the additional literature into account. The selected marker substances were tested in an experiment with 19 truffle dogs. The hypothesis “If trained truffle dogs recognize the substances as supposed truffles in the context of an experiment, they can be regarded as specific” was made. As it would be nearly impossible to investigate every other possible emitter of the same compounds to determine their specificity, this hypothesis was a reasonable approximation. We were interested in the question of what it is the dogs actually search for on a chemical level and whether we can link their ability to find truffles to one or more specific marker substances. The results of the dog experiment are not as unambiguous as could have been expected based on the SHS/GC-MS measurements. Presumably, the truffle aroma is mainly characterized and perceived by dogs by dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. However, as dogs are living beings and not analytical instruments, it seems unavoidable that one must live with some degree of uncertainty regarding these results.
Lysergol monohydrate
(2012)
In the title compound [systematic name: (7-methyl-4,6,6a,7,8,9-hexahydroindolo[4,3,2-fg]quinoline-9-yl)methanol monohydrate], C16H18N2O·H2O, the non-aromatic ring (ring C of the ergoline skeleton) directly fused to the aromatic rings is nearly planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.659 (3) Å, and shows an envelope conformation. In the crystal, hydrogen bonds between the lysergol and water molecules contribute to the formation of layers parallel to (10-2).
The fungus Claviceps purpurea grows on grasses
and cereal grains and produces six predominant ergot
alkaloids. These toxic substances undergo different transformation
reactions during storage and cereal processing. One
of these reactions is the addition of water to a double bond in
the ergoline skeleton. Since light is required for this process,
the substances formed were named lumi-ergot alkaloids.
From these, a new asymmetric carbon and consequently two
epimers with different polarities are formed. For investigations
of lumi-ergot alkaloids, ergometrine was used exemplarily
as it represents one of the six ergot alkaloids
predominantly formed by Claviceps purpurea. The main
reaction product, the less polar compound of the two lumiergometrine
epimers, was separated by HPLC and unambiguously
identified as 10-(S)-lumi-ergometrine using X-ray
structural analysis. A HPLC-MS/MS method was developed
for the detection of this substance in sclerotia extracts. Using
this method, the existence of both epimeric forms of lumiergometrine
could be proved in the sclerotia. This is the first
time that the existence of a lumi-transformation product of
ergot alkaloids was proved in naturally grown samples.
High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) can be used for simultaneous quantification of various mycotoxins in contaminated food samples. Therefore, multi-mycotoxin methods have been developed in the last couple of years. To enlarge these methods for further analytes, we have developed a LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of the mycotoxin aurofusarin. Additionally, further LC-MSn experiments were performed to demonstrate the fragmentation pattern of aurofusarin. Applicable multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions of aurofusarin were found and optimized by parameter variation of the tandem mass spectrometer. The applicability of the developed method was tested by analysis of naturally contaminated wheat.
The drug salinomycin (SAL) is a polyether antibiotic and used in veterinary Medicine as coccidiostat and growth promoter. Recently, SAL was suggested as a potential anticancer drug.
However, transformation products (TPs) resulting from metabolic and environmental degradation of SAL are incompletely known and structural information is missing. In this study, we therefore systematically investigated the formation and identification of SAL derived TPs using electrochemistry (EC) in an electrochemical reactor and rat and human liver microsome incubation (RLM and HLM) as TP generating methods. Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was applied to determine accurate masses in a suspected target analysis to identify TPs and to deduce occurring modification reactions of derived TPs. A total of 14 new, structurally different TPs were found (two EC-TPs, five RLM-TPs, and 11 HLM-TPs). The main modification reactions are decarbonylation for EC-TPs and oxidation (hydroxylation) for RLM/HLM-TPs. Of particular interest are potassium-based TPs identified after liver microsome incubation because these might have been overlooked or declared as oxidated sodium adducts in previous, non-HRMS-based studies due to the small mass difference between K and O + Na of 21 mDa. The MS fragmentation pattern of TPs was used to predict the position of identified modifications in the SAL molecule. The obtained knowledge regarding transformation reactions and novel TPs of SAL will contribute to elucidate SAL-metabolites with regards to structural prediction.
A method has been derived to completely recover mineral oil dispersed in water. The method involves three steps: the emulsification of the mineral oil by adding amphiphiles, the breaking of the emulsion by adding salts and the extraction of the mineral oil by a non-polar aprotic solvent. Various amphiphiles and types and concentrations of salts were tested. By using amphiphiles with HLB numbers in the range 4.7 to 40 a complete recovery of the mineral oil could be obtained for a combination of salts Na2SO4 + NaH2PO4 with total ionic strength of 6 mol/L.
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most abundant mycotoxins contaminating food and feed worldwide. Upon absorption, the major portion of the toxin is excreted by humans and animal species as glucuronide. However, consistent in vitro data on DON glucuronidation are lacking. In the present study, the metabolism of DON was investigated using liver microsomes from humans and six different animal species. It was shown that all animal and human liver microsomes led to the formation of up to three different mono-O-glucuronides with significant interspecies differences. While the activity of human liver microsomes was low (0.8 to 2.2 pmol·min–1·mg–1), bovine liver and rat liver microsomes conjugated DON with activities of 525 pmol·min–1·mg–1 and 80 pmol·min–1·mg–1, respectively.
Ergopeptides, like ergocornine and a-ergocryptine, exist in an S- and in an R-configuration. Kinetic experiments imply that certain configurations are preferred depending on the solvent. The experimental methods are explained in this article. Furthermore, computational methods are used to understand this configurational preference. Standard quantum chemical methods can predict the favored configurations by using minimum energy calculations on the potential energy landscape. However, the explicit role of the solvent is not revealed by this type of methods. In order to better understand its influence, classical mechanical molecular simulations are applied. It appears from our research that 'folding' the ergopeptide molecules into an intermediate state (between the S- and the R-configuration) is mechanically hindered for the preferred configurations.
The identification of transformation products (TPs) of pesticides in food is a crucial task difficult to tackle, due to the lack of standards. In this work, we present a novel methodology to synthesize five main TP standards of the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and to investigate their occurrence in selected fruits and spices. TPs were electrochemically (EC) synthesized using a boron-doped diamond electrode (BDD) and identified by EC coupled online to mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. CPF and its TPs were analyzed in the food samples by LC-MS/MS on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) after dispersive solid-phase extraction. A good recovery of 83–103% for CPF and 65–85% for TPs was obtained. Matrix effects, which cause signal suppression, ranged between 81 to 95% for all targeted analytes. The limit of detection and quantification for CPF were 1.6–1.9 and 4.9–5.7 μg/kg, respectively. Among investigated samples, CPF was determined in fresh lemon (104 μg/kg), fenugreek seed (40 μg/kg), and black pepper (31 μg/kg). CPF content in all samples was lower than the EU maximum residue level (MRL). The most frequently detected TPs were diethylthiophosphate and diethylphosphate. Other TPs, CPF oxon and trichloropyridinol, were also detected. Hence, EC is a versatile tool to synthesize TP standards which enables the determination of contaminants and residues in foodstuffs even if no commercial standards are available.
The present study investigates the in vitro phase I metabolism of cis-zearalenone (cis-ZEN) in rat liver microsomes and human liver microsomes. cis-ZEN is an often ignored isomer of the trans-configured Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (trans-ZEN). Upon the influence of (UV-) light, trans-ZEN isomerizes to cis-ZEN. Therefore, cis-ZEN is also present in food and feed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro phase I metabolism of cis-ZEN in comparison to that of trans-ZEN. As a result, an extensive metabolization of cis-ZEN is observed for rat and human liver microsomes as analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and high-resolution MS. Kinetic investigations based on the substrate depletion approach showed no significant difference in rate constants and half-lives for cis- and trans-ZEN in rat microsomes. In contrast, cis-ZEN was depleted about 1.4-fold faster than trans-ZEN in human microsomes. The metabolite pattern of cis-ZEN revealed a total of 10 phase I metabolites. Its reduction products, α- and β-cis-zearalenol (α- and β-cis-ZEL), were found as metabolites in both species, with α-cis-ZEL being a major metabolite in rat liver microsomes. Both compounds were identified by co-chromatography with synthesized authentic standards. A further major metabolite in rat microsomes was monohydroxylated cis-ZEN. In human microsomes, monohydroxylated cis-ZEN is the single dominant peak of the metabolite profile. Our study discloses three metabolic pathways for cis-ZEN: reduction of the keto-group, monohydroxylation, and a combination of both. Because these routes have been reported for trans-ZEN, we conclude that the phase I metabolism of cis-ZEN is essentially similar to that of its trans isomer. As trans-ZEN is prone to metabolic activation, leading to the formation of more estrogenic metabolites, the novel metabolites of cis-ZEN reported in this study, in particular α-cis-ZEL, might also show higher estrogenicity.
The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), formed by Fusarium species, is one of the most abundant mycotoxins contaminating food and feed worldwide. Upon ingestion, the majority of the toxin is excreted by humans and animal species as glucuronide conjugate. First in vitro data indicated that DON phase II metabolism is strongly species dependent. However, kinetic data on the in vitro metabolism as well as investigations on the specific enzymes responsible for DON glucuronidation in human are lacking. In the present study, the DON metabolism was investigated using human microsomal fractions and uridine-diphosphoglucuronyltransferases (UGTs) as well as liver microsomes from five animal species. Only two of the twelve tested human recombinant UGTs led to the formation of DON glucuronides with a different regiospecificity. UGT2B4 predominantly catalyzed the formation of DON-15-O-glucuronide (DON-15GlcA), while for UGT2B7 the DON-3-O-glucuronide (DON-3GlcA) metabolite prevailed. For human UGTs, liver, and intestinal microsomes, the glucuronidation activities were low. The estimated apparent intrinsic clearance (Clapp,int) for all human UGT as well as tissue homogenates was <1 mL/min mg protein. For the animal liver microsomes, moderate Clapp,int between 1.5 and 10 mL/min mg protein were calculated for carp, trout, and porcine liver. An elevated glucuronidation activity was detected for rat and bovine liver microsomes leading to Clapp,int between 20 and 80 mL/min mg protein. The obtained in vitro data points out that none of the animal models is suitable for estimating the human DON metabolism with respect to the metabolite pattern and formation rate.
Trichodiene is the first and only volatile intermediate in the biosynthesis of Fusarium mycotoxins and its detection in the gas-phase might therefore be of potential interest as a marker for food safety analysis. We herein present an improved diastereoselective synthesis of trichodiene which can be used as an analytical standard for a headspace gas chromatography / mass spectrometry method to be developed.
Investigations of the metabolic pathway of mycotoxins by microsomal techniques are often laborious, causing an increasing demand for easy and rapid simulation methods. Thus, the non-microsomal oxidation technique of electrochemistry coupled online to mass spectrometry (EC/MS) was applied to simulate phase I biotransformation of the Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA). The obtained transformation products were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR) and HPLC-MS/MS. Transformation products (TPs) from EC/MS were compared to those of other oxidative methods such as Fenton-like and Ce(IV) reactions and metabolites derived from in vitro assays (human and rat liver microsomes). Electrochemical oxidization of ZEA was achieved by applying a potential between 0 and 2,500 mV vs. Pd/H2 using a flow-through cell with a boron-doped diamond working electrode. Several mono-hydroxylated TPs were generated by EC/MS and Fenton-like reaction, which could also be found in microsomal in vitro assays. EC and Ce(IV) led to the formation of structurally different ZEA dimers and dimeric quinones probably connected over covalent biaryl C-C and C-O-C bonds. Although the dimerization of phenolic compounds is often observed in natural processes, ZEA dimers have not yet been reported. This is the first report on the formation of stable ZEA dimers and their related quinones. The tested non-microsomal methods, in particular EC/MS, could be useful in order to predict the biotransformation products of mycotoxins, even in cases where one to one simulation is not always feasible.
Xenobiotics and their reactive metabolites are conjugated with native biomolecules such as glutathione and glucoside during phase II metabolism. Toxic metabolites are usually detoxified during this step. On the other hand, these reactive species have a potential health impact by disrupting many enzymatic functions. Thus, it is crucial to understand phase II conjugation reactions of xenobiotics in order to address their fate and possible toxicity mechanisms.
Additionally, conventional methods (in vivo and in vitro) have limitation due to matrix complexity and time-consuming. Hence, developing fast and matrix-free alternative method is highly demandable. In this work, oxidative phase I metabolites and reactive species of chlorpyrifos (insecticide) and fluopyram (fungicide) were electrochemically produced by using a boron-doped diamond electrode coupled online to electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Reactive species of the substrates were trapped by biomolecules (glutathione and glucoside) and phase II conjugative metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS, and/or Triple time of flight (TripleTOF)-MS. Glutathione conjugates and glucosylation of chlorpyrifos, trichloropyridinol, oxon, and monohydroxyl fluopyram were identified successfully. Glutathione and glucoside were conjugated with chlorpyrifos, trichloropyridinol, and oxon by losing a neutral HCl. In the case of fluopyram, its monohydroxyl metabolite was actively conjugated with both glutathione and glucoside. In summary, seven bioconjugates of CPF and its metabolites and two bioconjugates of fluopyram metabolites were identified using electrochemistry (EC)/MS for the first time in this work. The work could be used as an alternative approach to identify glutathione and glucosylation conjugation reactions of other organic compounds too. It is important, especially to predict phase II conjugation within a short time and matrix-free environment.