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(454) Behavior of alkylphenol ethoxylates and carboxylated metabolites in estuarine and marine environments. Jonkers, Niels1, de Voogt, Pim1, 1 ABSTRACT- Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO), a group of nonionic surfactants, are of major environmental concern, because of their high production rate and the estrogenic effects of some of their possible metabolites. To be able to assess the environmental risk of APEO, it is essential to include the metabolites in the fate analysis. New groups of metabolites have recently been identified, with either an oxidized ethoxy chain (alkylphenoxy ethoxy acetic acids, APEC) or both the ethoxy and alkylchain oxidized (carboxy alkylphenoxy ethoxy acetic acids, CAPEC). In order to assess the fate of these compound groups, extensive sampling campaigns have been carried out in the Dutch estuarine and marine waters. The surface water and sediment sampling locations were chosen to identify the routes of APEO to the North Sea, including possible sources such as a sewage discharge, production platforms and main shipping routes. By sampling along salinity gradients, the influence of salinity on sorption characteristics and degradation was assessed. Water samples were filtered, and immediately extracted by SPE on board. Filters and sediments were Soxhlet extracted, followed by SPE. Analysis was performed by reversed phase LC-ESI-MS in + and - mode. From the results, the most important sources of APEO to the aqueous environment could be identified and routes of APEO through the Dutch aqueous environment could be described. Long-chain alkylphenoxy ethoxy carboxylates, which we have shown previously to be relevant APEO metabolites in biodegradation studies in river Rhine water, were identified for the first time in estuarine and marine samples. Key words: alkylphenol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxy carboxylates, estuaries, environmental fate |
