TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wehe, Christoph A.
A1  - Pieper, Imke
A1  - Holtkamp, Michael
A1  - Thyssen, Georgina M.
A1  - Sperling, Michael
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
A1  - Karst, Uwe
T1  - On-line species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis in the picomolar range reveals the time- and species-depending mercury uptake in human astrocytes
JF  - Analytical & bioanalytical chemistry
N2  - In order to reveal the time-depending mercury species uptake by human astrocytes, a novel approach for total mercury analysis is presented, which uses an accelerated sample introduction system combined on-line with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer equipped with a collision/reaction cell. Human astrocyte samples were incubated with inorganic mercury (HgCl2), methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), and thimerosal. After 1-h incubation with Hg2+, cellular concentrations of 3 mu M were obtained, whereas for organic species, concentrations of 14-18 mu M could be found. After 24 h, a cellular accumulation factor of 0.3 was observed for the cells incubated with Hg2+, whereas the organic species both showed values of about 5. Due to the obtained steady-state signals, reliable results with relative standard deviations of well below 5 % and limits of detection in the concentration range of 1 ng L-1 were obtained using external calibration and species-unspecific isotope dilution analysis approaches. The results were further validated using atomic fluorescence spectrometry.
KW  - Mercury
KW  - Thimerosal
KW  - Astrocytes
KW  - ICP-MS
KW  - Isotope dilution analysis
KW  - Automation
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7608-4
SN  - 1618-2642
SN  - 1618-2650
VL  - 406
IS  - 7
SP  - 1909
EP  - 1916
PB  - Springer
CY  - Heidelberg
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schnitzler, Joseph G.
A1  - Reckendorf, Anja
A1  - Pinzone, Marianna
A1  - Autenrieth, Marijke
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
A1  - Covaci, Adrian
A1  - Malarvannan, Govindan
A1  - Ruser, Andreas
A1  - Das, Krishna
A1  - Siebert, Ursula
T1  - Supporting evidence for PCB pollution threatening global killer whale population
JF  - Aquatic Toxicology
N2  - A recent Science report predicted the global killer whale population to collapse due to PCB pollution. Here we present empirical evidence, which supports and extends the reports’ statement. In 2016, a neonate male killer whale stranded on the German island of Sylt. Neonatal attributes indicated an age of at least 3 days. The stomach contained ∼20 mL milk residue and no pathologies explaining the cause of death could be detected. Blubber samples presenting low lipid concentrations were analysed for persistent organic pollutants. Skin samples were collected for genotyping of the mitochondrial control region. The blubber PCB concentrations were very high [SPCBs, 225 mg/kg lipid weight (lw)], largely exceeding the PCB toxicity thresholds reported for the onset of immunosuppression [9 mg/kg lw ∑PCB] and for severe reproductive impairment [41 mg/kg lw ∑PCB] reported for marine mammals. Additionally, this individual showed equally high concentrations in p,p’-DDE [226 mg/kg lw], PBDEs [5 mg/kg lw] and liver mercury levels [1.1 μg/g dry weight dw]. These results suggest a high placental transfer of pollutants from mother to foetus. Consequently, blubber and plasma PCB concentrations and calf mortality rates are both high in primiparous females. With such high pollutant levels, this neonate had poor prerequisites for survival. The neonate belonged to Ecotype I (generalist feeder) and carried the mitochondrial haplotype 35 present in about 16% of the North Atlantic killer whale from or close to the North Sea. The relevance of this data becomes apparent in the UK West Coast Community, the UK's only residentorca population, which is currently composed of only eight individuals (each four males and females) and no calves have been reported over the last 19 years.Despite worldwide regulations, PCBs persist in the environment and remain a severe concern for killer whale populations, placing calves at high risk due to the mother-offspring PCB-transfer resulting in a high toxicological burden of the neonates.
KW  - Killer whale
KW  - PCB
KW  - DDT
KW  - PBDE
KW  - Mercury
KW  - North Sea
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.11.008
SN  - 0166-445X
SN  - 1879-1514
VL  - 206
SP  - 102
EP  - 104
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -