Evidence
for High Concentrations and Maternal Transfer
of Substituted Diphenylamines in European Eels Analyzed by Two-Dimensional
Gas Chromatography–Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and Gas
Chromatography–Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass
Spectrometry
posted on 2016-10-28, 00:00authored byRoxana Sühring, Xavier Ortiz, Miren Pena-Abaurrea, Karl J. Jobst, Marko Freese, Jan-Dag Pohlmann, Lasse Marohn, Ralf Ebinghaus, Sean Backus, Reinhold Hanel, Eric J. Reiner
Chemical pollution
is hypothesized to be one of the factors driving
the strong decline of the critically endangered European eel population.
Specifically, the impact of contaminants on the quality of spawning
eels and subsequent embryo survival and development has been discussed
as crucial investigation point. However, so far, only very limited
information on potential negative effects of contaminants on the reproduction
of eels is available. Through the combination of nontargeted ultrahigh-resolution
mass spectrometry and multidimensional gas chromatography, combined
with more-conventional targeted analytical approaches and multimedia
mass-balance modeling, compounds of particular relevance, and their
maternal transfer in artificially matured European eels from the German
river Ems have been identified. Substituted diphenylamines were, unexpectedly,
found to be the primary organic contaminants in the eel samples, with
concentrations in the μg g–1 wet weight range.
Furthermore, it could be shown that these contaminants, as well as
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and polyaromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), are not merely stored in lipid rich tissue of
eels but maternally transferred into gonads and eggs. The results
of this study provide unique information on both the fate and behavior
of substituted diphenylamines in the environment as well as their
relevance as contaminants in European eels.