Enantiomeric Fractions Research Articles

Deducing formation routes of oxylipins by quantitative multiple heart-cutting achiral-chiral 2D-LC-MS

Several oxylipins are regulators of inflammation. They are formed by enzymes such as lipoxygenases or cyclooxygenases, but also stereorandomly by autoxidation. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for oxylipin quantification do not separate enantiomers. Here, we combine sensitive and selective oxylipin analysis with chiral separation using two-dimensional (2D)-LC-MS/MS. By multiple heart-cutting, the oxylipin peaks are transferred onto a chiral column. 45 enantiomeric pairs of (di-)hydroxy-fatty acids are separated with full gradient elution within 1.80min, yielding lower limits of quantification <1pg on column. Concentrations as well as enantiomeric fractions of oxylipins can be determined, even at low concentrations or at high enantiomeric excess of one isomer. The developed achiral-chiral multiple heart-cutting 2D-LC-MS/MS method offers unprecedented selectivity, enabling a better understanding of the formation route of these lipid mediators. This is demonstrated by distinguishing the formation of hydroxy-fatty acids by (acetylated) cyclooxygenase-2 and radical-mediated autoxidation. Applying the method to human M2-like-macrophages, we show that the so-called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) 5,15-DiHEPE and 7,17-DiHDHA as well as 5,15-DiHETE were present as (S,S)-enantiomers, supporting their enzymatic formation. In contrast, at least eight isomers (including protectin DX but not neutroprotectin D1) of 10,17-DiHDHA are present in immune cells, indicating formation by autoxidation. In human plasma of healthy subjects, none of these dihydroxy-fatty acids are not present. However, we demonstrate that all four isomers quickly form via autoxidation if the samples are stored improperly. Thus, dihydroxy-FA should only be reported as SPM, such as resolvin D5 or resolvin E4, if an enantioselective analysis has been carried out.

Comprehensive study of chiral herbicide flusulfinam uptake, translocation, degradation, and subcellular distribution in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The biological behavior of flusulfinam, a potential commercial chiral herbicide for rice, has not been well explored. Herein, the uptake of chiral flusulfinam by rice and its transport, degradation, and subcellular distribution in rice (Oryza sativa L.) were investigated. The enantiomeric fraction (EF) in roots was 0.54 during 0 d to 7 d in hydroponic laboratory conditions. The bioconcentration factor of flusulfinam enantiomers was 2.1, suggesting an absence of observed enantioselectivity in the absorption process. Notably, the EF in the shoots decreased to 0.35 on the 7th day. The translocation factors of R- and S-flusulfinam were 0.12 and 0.27, respectively, indicating a preferential transfer of the S-flusulfinam from the root to the shoot. Flusulfinam was identified in the root after spraying. The translocation factors of R- and S-flusulfinam were consistently similar, signifying the capacity for downward movement without enantioselectivity. Interestingly, the degradation half-lives of R- and S-flusulfinam in the total plant were 5.50 and 5.06 d (p < 0.05), respectively, supporting the preferential degradation of S-flusulfinam throughout the total plant. Flusulfinam primarily entered the roots via the apoplastic pathway and was subsequently transported within the plant through aquaporins and ion channels. The subcellular distribution experiment revealed the predominant accumulation of flusulfinam enantiomers in soluble components (84%) with no enantioselectivity in these processes. There was upregulation lipid transfer protein-2 and carboxylesterases15 genes, which could explain the preferential transport and degradation of S-flusulfinam. This study is important in assessing the environmental risk associated with flusulfinam and ensuring food safety.

Enantiomeric profile of amphetamines in seized drug samples and in blood of impaired drivers in Iceland: The rise of (R)-methamphetamine?

Amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (METH) use is increasing globally. Illegal AMP is generally a racemic mixture, whereas AMP-containing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs prescribed in Iceland consist of S-AMP. AMP is also a main metabolite of interest after METH intake. Distinguishing between legal and illegal AMP intake is vital in forensic toxicology. A chiral UPLC-MS-MS method was used to determine the enantiomeric profile of AMP and METH in circulation in Iceland by analysing blood samples from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and seized drug samples from 2021 and 2022. All seized AMP samples (n = 48) were racemic, whereas all but one seized METH sample (n = 26) were enantiopure. Surprisingly, a large portion of the enantiopure METH samples was R-METH. DUID blood samples positive for AMP (n = 564) had a median blood concentration of 180 ng/mL (range 20-2770 ng/mL) and a median enantiomeric fraction (EFR) of 0.54 (range 0-0.73), whereas samples positive for METH (n = 236) had a median blood concentration of 185 ng/mL (range 20-2300 ng/mL) and a median EFR of 0.23 (range 0-1). The findings of this study show a significantly lower blood concentration in drivers with only S-AMP detected compared with when the R-isomer is also detected. No significant difference in blood concentration was detected between the sample groups containing S-METH, R-METH or both enantiomers. The occurrence of R-METH in both seized drug samples and DUID cases indicates a change in drug supply and a need for better scientific knowledge on R-METH abuse.

Hexabromocyclododecanes in soils, plants, and sediments from Svalbard, Arctic: Levels, isomer profiles, chiral signatures, and potential sources

This study investigated the occurrence, stereoisomeric behavior, and potential sources of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in topsoil and terrestrial vegetation from Svalbard and ocean sediment samples from Kongsfjorden, an open fjord on the west coast of Spitsbergen. The mean levels of total concentrations (Σ3HBCDs) were comparable to those in other remote regions and were lower than those in source regions. Elevated proportions of α-HBCD with an average of 41% in the terrestrial samples and 25% in ocean sediments compared to those in commercial products (10–13% for α-HBCD) were observed, implying isomerization from γ- to α-HBCD in the Arctic environment. In addition, the extensive deviations of enantiomeric fractions (EFs) from the racemic values reflected the effect of biotransformation on HBCD accumulation. Linear correlation analysis, redundancy analysis, and back-trajectory were combined to infer possible HBCD sources, and the results showed the important role of global production and long-range environmental transport (LRET) for the entry of HBCDs into the Arctic at an early stage. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first report on the diastereoisomer- and enantiomer-specific profiles of HBCDs in the Arctic terrestrial environment and sheds light on the transport pathways and environmental fate for more effective risk management related to HBCDs in remote regions.

Tracking the transformation of persistent organic pollutants in food webs using multi element isotope and enantiomer fractionation

In order to track the transformation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food webs, field experiments were conducted at two sites using stable isotope and enantiomer fractionation concepts. The enantiomers of α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) were selected as representative compounds for POPs. Isotope and enantiomer fractionation allowed the characterization of α-HCH enantiomer biotransformation processes along trophic levels of the food web - from soil and plants to animal livers, fat tissues and milk. The enrichment of heavy isotopes in soils, plants and sediments as well as the changes of enantiomer fractionation indicate that the biotransformation of α-HCH occurred in these compartments. Moreover, the increase of carbon and chlorine isotopic compositions as well as the changes of enantiomer fractionation of liver, fat tissues and milk demonstrated that the overall HCH exposure was much higher than estimates based on concentration levels, while the isotope and enantiomer fractionation revealed the enantiomer specific enantiomer uptake across the blood-brain barriers. Dual element isotope analysis suggested that complex transformation processes have occurred along the potential food web from the HCH sources over different environmental compartments to animal livers, fat tissues and milk. The results imply that the analyses of stable isotope compositions and concentrations has potential to reconstruct the exposure of higher organisms to POPs.

Tuning ferroelectric phase transition temperature by enantiomer fraction

Tuning phase transition temperature is one of the central issues in phase transition materials. Herein, we report a case study of using enantiomer fraction engineering as a promising strategy to tune the Curie temperature (TC) and related properties of ferroelectrics. A series of metal-halide perovskite ferroelectrics (S−3AMP)x(R−3AMP)1−xPbBr4 was synthesized where 3AMP is the 3-(aminomethyl)piperidine divalent cation and enantiomer fraction x varies between 0 and 1 (0 and 1 = enantiomers; 0.5 = racemate). With the change of the enantiomer fraction, the TC, second-harmonic generation intensity, degree of circular polarization of photoluminescence, and photoluminescence intensity of the materials have been tuned. Particularly, when x = 0.70 − 1, a continuously linear tuning of the TC is achieved, showing a tunable temperature range of about 73 K. This strategy provides an effective means and insights for regulating the phase transition temperature and chiroptical properties of functional materials.

Boosting the essential oil yield of Coriandrum sativum L. using choline chloride-based NADES: an optimized and systematic study employing response surface methodology (RSM)

Coriander essential oil (CEO) is one of the most versatile and powerful essential oils used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, thanks to its numerous properties. Different choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were studied as additives in the hydrodistillation preparation of CEO, and most were able to increase oil yield compared to conventional hydrodistillation. Among these different NADES, the use of choline chloride (ChCl)-urea (N11) led to a yield increase of up to 31.5% in comparison to traditional water hydrodistillation. Few differences were observed in the composition of the oils, except in those prepared using acidic ChCl-citric acid NADES, which led to a significant variation in the CEO composition. The phytochemical profile of CEOs was investigated, and the enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of the most important monoterpene alcohol, linalool, were determined. No differences in the EFs were observed for all the CEOs (86.77% (S)-(+) enantiomer), except for those obtained by using choline ChCl-citric acid (59.26% (S)-(+) enantiomer). Subsequently, a three-level custom design (CD) was used to study the influence of four independent variables: plant-to-N11 ratio, pre-treatment temperature, pre-treatment time, and water percentage. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate and optimize the effects of the chosen factors. The RSM results show that the plant-to-N11 ratio, pre-treatment temperature, and water percentage were highly significant in influencing the extraction yield, while the pre-treatment time was not a significant influence. The highest extraction efficiency was obtained using N11 in a 1:4 (w/w) plant-to-NADES ratio, 40 °C and 30 min US-assisted pre-treatment, and 30% (w/w) water content, resulting in an additional 26.6% increase compared with the screening phase. Overall, using the optimized conditions, we were able to enhance the extraction yield up to a total of a 63% (0.77 ± 0.04% (CEOref) vs. 1.10 ± 0.09% (CEOopt)).

Residue Behavior of Chiral Fungicide Prothioconazole and Its Major Chiral Metabolite in Flour Product Processing.

This study systematically investigates the stereoselective metabolism and residue behavior of chiral pesticide prothioconazole enantiomers during the steaming, baking, and frying of steamed buns, bread, and deep-fried dough sticks. The results show that steaming, baking, and frying can significantly promote the degradation of the prothioconazole enantiomers. In low- and high-concentration treatments, the degradation rates of prothioconazole enantiomers were over 96.0% and 45.4%, respectively, and the residual concentration of prothioconazole-desthio enantiomers was less than 32.7 μg/kg (excluding fried processing). During the processing of steamed buns, bread, and deep-fried dough sticks, the enantiomer fraction (EF) value of the prothioconazole enantiomer was close to 0.5, and the stereoselectivity was not significant. During the processing of steamed buns (low concentration), bread (low and high concentrations), and deep-fried dough sticks (low concentration), the stereoselectivity of prothioconazole-desthio was significant, and preferential enantiomer degradation occurred. Following the analysis of 120 flour product samples, the residual risk.

Identification of Species-Specific Prey Uptake and Biotransformation of Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Riparian and Aquatic Food Webs.

The atropisomeric enrichment of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can trace the movement of PCBs through food webs, but it is a challenge to elucidate the prey uptake and stereoselective biotransformation of PCBs in different species. The present study investigated the concentrations and enantiomer fractions (EFs) of chiral PCBs in invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, and birds. Chiral PCB signature was estimated in total prey for different predators based on quantitative prey sources. The nonracemic PCBs in snakehead (Ophiocephalus argus) were mainly from prey. EFs of PCBs in amphibians and birds were mainly influenced by biotransformation, which showed enrichment of (+)-CBs 132 and 135/144 and different enantiomers of CBs 95 and 139/149. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) of chiral PCBs were higher than 1 for amphibians and passerine birds and lower than 1 for kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and snakehead. BMFs were significantly correlated with EFs of chiral PCBs in predators and indicative of atropisomeric enrichment of PCBs across different species. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were higher in the riparian food web than in the aquatic food web because of the high metabolism capacity of chiral PCBs in aquatic predators. The results highlight the influences of species-specific prey sources and biotransformation on the trophic dynamics of chiral PCBs.

Enantiomerization and enantioselective bioaccumulation of diclofop-methyl in tubifex worms.

In this study, the hydrolysis of diclofop-methyl (DM) in aqueous system and the bioaccumulation of its main metabolite, Diclofop (DA), in the tubifex worms were investigated using enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography. With the addition of tubifex, rapid hydrolysis was observed for DM. It is revealed that the hydrolysis of DM in the water and the accumulation of DA in the worms were both enantioselective. Meanwhile, either the hydrolysis amount or the levels of enantioselectivity were influenced by the tubifex. After incubated for 24 h, about 94.6% of the DM was hydrolyzed and the enantiomer fraction of metabolite (DA) deviated from 0.5 with R-DA significantly higher than S-DA. The enantiopure S-DM and R-DM and S-DA and R-DA were incubated, and enantiomerizations were detected between the two DM enantiomers with S-form inversing into R-form and vice versa. It was found that the S-DM exhibited a higher tendency to invert than the R-DM.

Effect of fertilization on the degradation and enantioselectivity of fipronil in soil.

Fertilizers and pesticides are commonly used simultaneously in agriculture. However, the effects of common fertilizers on the dissipation, enantioselectivity, and metabolites of the chiral insecticide fipronil in soil are yet to be reported. An enantioselective method for detecting fipronil enantiomers and their metabolites in different soil matrices was developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The results showed that organic and compound fertilizers significantly decreased the degradation of S- and R-fipronil, whereas phosphate and microbial fertilizers slightly reduced fipronil dissipation. The half-life values for S- and R-fipronil were 43.3 and 28.9 days, 99.0 and 63.0 days, 69.3 and 43.3 days, 46.2 and 30.1 days, and 43.3 and 31.5 days, respectively, in the control and the four fertilizer treatments, respectively. The enantioselectivity of fipronil enantiomers occurred and R-fipronil exhibited preferential degradation with an enantiomeric fraction (EF) of 0.4900-0.6238 in all treatments; but the four tested fertilizers decreased enantioselectivity with EF values changed from 0.4970 to 0.6238 in the control to 0.4900-0.6171 in fertilizer treatments. Two metabolites, fipronil sulfone and sulfide, were produced, and their amounts increased with culture time in all treatments. Fertilization reduced the content of fipronil sulfide and sulfone but hardly reduced the total amount of fipronil and its metabolites. Fertilizers affect the environmental behavior of fipronil in the soil. Fertilization alters the soil bacterial community, which may be an important factor. This influence is relatively complicated and should be comprehensively considered in the environmental risk assessment of pesticides. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enantioselective uptake and translocation of atenolol in higher plants

The presence of pharmaceuticals in surface water and wastewater has been an increasing area of research since they can represent a possible route for human exposure when these waters are used to irrigate crops. The concentration of these drugs in crops depends on their uptake and translocation within plants. A less recognized question is that over 50 % of pharmaceuticals are chiral compounds, but there is little knowledge about their enantioselectivity in plants. In this study, we evaluated the uptake, bioconcentration, and translocation of enantiomers of atenolol, a commonly used beta-blocker, in Arabidopsis thaliana cells and Lactuca sativa plants under hydroponic conditions. Atenolol was taken up by Arabidopsis thaliana cells during 120 h of exposure to solutions with 1 mg/L of R/S-(±)-atenolol. A moderate preference for R-(+)-atenolol over S-(−)-atenolol was observed, with the enantiomeric fraction (EF) reaching 0.532 ± 0.002 for the R enantiomer. Atenolol was also taken up and translocated by Lactuca sativa after hydroponic cultivation in nutrient solutions containing 1 or 10 μg/L R/S-(±)-atenolol. Moderate enantioselectivity was detected in the treatment with 10 μg/L, and the EF after 168 h was 0.42 ± 0.01, suggesting that S-(−)-atenolol was preferentially accumulated. Selectivity was also observed in the translocation factor (TF), calculated as the ratio of the concentration in the leaves over that in the roots. As many emerging contaminants are chiral, our findings highlight the importance to consider their fate and risks in terrestrial ecosystems at the enantiomer scale.

Effect of Processing on Reduction in Chiral Pesticide Hexaconazole for Kiwifruit Juice.

In this study, the residue levels of chiral pesticide hexaconazole during kiwifruit juice processing (peeling, homogenization, and sterilization) were investigated by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the dietary risk during these processes was also assessed. Hexaconazole was applied at dosages of 173.33 and 346.66 mg/L (recommended and double recommended dosage) in kiwifruit. In the peeling process, 87.7% to 89.2% of the residues were decreased after peeling. Levels of hexaconazole residues in homogenization and sterilization processes further increased from 0.49% to 24.3% and from 0.2% to 3.0%, respectively. Processing factors (PFs) for (+)- and (-)-hexaconazole after peeling, homogenization, and sterilization were 0.12, 0.88, 0.99 for low-dose treatment and 0.12, 0.87, 0.99 for high-dose treatment, respectively. The enantioselectivity of hexaconazole during these procedures was evaluated by enantiomeric fractions (EFs) values, which were around 0.5 throughout all the procedures, indicating that hexaconazole enantiomers had similar dissipation behaviors during kiwifruit juice processing. The RQc of hexaconazole in pre-peeling samples was significantly greater than 100% under two dosages, while the peeling process can notably decrease the values to an acceptable level. The results of this study could provide guidance for agriculture applications and kiwi commodity production to decrease the risk of hexaconazole residue.

An enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to study the fate of quizalofop-P-ethyl in soil and selected agricultural products

In this study, the attention was focused on quizalofop-ethyl, a chiral herbicide whose formulation has recently been marketed as quizalofop-P-ethyl, i.e. the (+)-enantiomer exhibiting herbicidal activity. To verify the real enantiomeric purity of this product as well as to study its environmental fate, the enantioselective separation of the P- and M- enantiomers of quizalofop-ethyl was achieved on Lux Cellulose-2 column (3‑chloro,4-methylphenilcarbamate cellulose) under isocratic conditions in polar organic mode. Once established that the commercial formulation contains ˜ 0.6% (enantiomeric fraction) of M as an impurity, an HPLC-MS/MS method was developed, validated and applied to the analysis of soil, carrots and turnips treated with the herbicide. A simple solid-liquid extraction allowed recoveries greater than 70%; limits of detections of P and M enantiomers were below 5 ng g−1. The analyses of the real samples showed a modification of the enantiomeric fraction of quizalofop-M-ethyl between the commercial formulation (EFM = 0.63 ± 0.03%) and the analysed matrices (EFM = 7.6 ± 0.1% for carrots; EFM = 0% for the other matrices). This outcome highlighted the occurrence of an enantioselective biotic dissipation, responsible for a greater persistency of the distomer in carrots. On the other hand, since screening analyses revealed the occurrence of residues of the metabolite quizalofop-acid with the same EFs as the ester precursor, it was concluded that the hydrolytic conversion was an abiotic process.

Integrating compound-specific stable isotope and enantiomer-specific analysis to characterize the isomeric and enantiomeric signatures of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in paddy soils

Organic pollutants in paddy fields may undergo different processes from those in dryland due to the anaerobic environment. The integrated use of compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) and enantiomer-specific analysis is a promising technique for understanding the behavior and fate of organic pollutants in soils. In this study, soil samples were collected from paddy fields in three major rice cultivation regions of China, spanning a transect of 4000 km. The mean concentrations of ƩHCHs in paddy soils from the Taihu Plain were the highest (1.44 ng/g). The ratios of α-HCH/β-HCH (all below 11.8) and α-HCH/γ-HCH (92% below 4.64), as well as the enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of chiral α-HCH (mean of 0.81), reflected that the distribution of HCHs was affected by the use of both technical HCHs and lindane. The preferential depletion of (-)-α-HCH and pronounced carbon isotope fractionation of α-HCH (δ13C of −28.22 ± 0.92‰ −23.63 ± 1.89‰) demonstrated its effective transformation. Factors such as altitude, soil temperature, soil pH, soil conductivity and soil organic matter significantly influenced the fate and transformation of HCHs. The current study highlights the integrated application of CSIA and enantiomer-specific analysis to provide multiple lines of evidence for the transformation of HCHs in soils.

Enantiomeric Fractions Reveal Differences in the Atropselective Disposition of 2,2',3,5',6-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 95) in Wildtype, Cyp2abfgs-Null, and CYP2A6-Humanized Mice.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental contaminants that can cause neurotoxicity. PCBs, such as PCB 95 (2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl), can be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes into neurotoxic metabolites. To better understand how the metabolism of PCB 95 affects neurotoxic outcomes, we conducted a study on the disposition of PCB 95 in transgenic mouse models. The mice were given a single oral dose of PCB 95 (1.0 mg/kg) and were euthanized 24 h later for analysis. PCB 95 levels were highest in adipose tissue, followed by the liver, brain, and blood. Adipose tissue levels were significantly higher in wild-type (WT) mice than in Cyp2abfgs-null (KO) or CYP2A6-transgenic (KI) mice. We also observed genotype-dependent differences in the enrichment of aS-PCB 95 in female mice, with a less pronounced enrichment in KO than WT and KI mice. Ten hydroxylated PCB 95 metabolites were detected in blood and tissue across all exposure groups. The metabolite profiles differed across tissues, while sex and genotype-dependent differences were less pronounced. Total OH-PCB levels were highest in the blood, followed by the liver, adipose tissue, and brain. Total OH-PCB blood levels were lower in KO than in WT mice, while the opposite trend was observed in the liver. In male mice, total OH-PCB metabolite levels were significantly lower in KI than in WT mice in blood and the liver, while the opposite trend was observed in female mice. In conclusion, the study highlights the differences in the atropselective disposition of PCB 95 and its metabolites in different types of mice, demonstrating the usefulness of these transgenic mouse models for characterizing the role of PCB metabolism in PCB neurotoxicity.

Spatial redistribution and enantiomeric signatures of hexachlorocyclohexanes in Chinese forest soils: Implications to environmental behavior and influencing factors

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are a group of highly persistent pesticides. The concentrations of HCHs and the enantiomeric fractions of α-HCH in the O- and A-horizons from 30 mountains across China were analyzed in this study. The concentrations of total HCHs ranged from 0.061 to 46.9 ng/g (mean 2.12 ng/g) and 0.046 to 16.1 ng/g (mean 0.792 ng/g) in the O- and A-horizons, respectively. The HCH residues were mainly derived from the historical applications of technical HCH and lindane. Higher concentrations of HCHs were typically found in northern China, and no significant correlations were found between historical technical HCH usage and HCH isomer concentrations in either the O- or A-horizons (p > 0.05). Conversely, the concentrations of HCH isomers were significantly correlated with the environmental parameters (temperature and precipitation), thus indicating a typical secondary distribution pattern. Some HCH isomers tended to be transported northward under the long-term effect of monsoon. Chiral α-HCH was non-racemic in soils and showed preferential degradation of (−) α-HCH in both the O- and A-horizons. The transformation from γ-HCH to α-HCH might alter the enantiomeric signatures of α-HCH in soils. Moreover, the deviation from racemic of α-HCH was positively correlated with the C/N ratio in the A-horizon (p < 0.01), thus suggesting that the C/N ratio could alter the microbial activity and significantly affect the enantioselective degradation extent of α-HCH in soils.

Uptake and Transformation of Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers (HCHs) in Tree Growth Rings at a Contaminated Field Site.

The potential transformation of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) within tree trunks could have a significant impact on the use of phytoscreening. However, the transformation mechanisms of HCH in trunks particularly in growth rings are not yet well understood. Therefore, a field study on an HCH-contaminated field site was conducted to investigate the fate of HCH, particularly α-HCH in tree trunks using multielement compound-specific isotope analysis (ME-CSIA) and enantiomer fractionation. The results indicate that α-HCH was transformed, as evidenced by higher δ13C and δ37Cl values detected across different growth ring sections and in the bark compared to those in muck and soil. Remarkably, in the middle growth ring section, δ13C values of HCH were only marginally higher or comparable to those in muck, whereas δ37Cl values were higher than those of the muck, indicating a different transformation mechanism. Moreover, the δ37Cl values of β-HCH also increased in the tree trunks compared to those in soil and muck, implying a transformation of β-HCH. Additionally, dual-element isotope analysis revealed that there are different transformation mechanisms between the middle growth rings and other sections. Our findings suggest that the transformation of HCHs in trunks could bias quantitative phytoscreening approaches; however, ME-CISA offers an option to estimate the degradation extent.

Enantioselective LC-MS/MS determination of antidepressants, β-blockers and metabolites in agricultural soil, compost and digested sewage sludge

In this work, an analytical method was optimised and validated for the simultaneous extraction and enantioselective determination of chiral β-blockers, antidepressants and two of their metabolites in agricultural soils, compost and digested sludge. Sample treatment was based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and extract clean-up by dispersive solid-phase extraction. Analytical determination was carried out by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using a chiral column. Enantiomeric resolutions were in the range from 0.71 to 1.36. Accuracy was in the range from 85 to 127% and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was lower than 17% for all the compounds. Method quantification limits were below 1.21–52.9 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) in soil, 0.76–35.8 ng g−1 dw in compost and 13.6–90.3 ng g−1 dw in digested sludge. Application to real samples revealed enantiomeric enrichment in the range especially in compost and digested sludge (enantiomeric fractions up to 1).

Stereoselective Toxicokinetic and Distribution Study on the Hexaconazole Enantiomers in Mice

Hexaconazole (Hex) has been widely used in agricultural products, and its residues may pose a potential risk to human health. However, the metabolic behavior of Hex enantiomers in mammal organisms is still unknown, which is important for evaluating the differences in their toxicity. In this study, the distribution of S-(+)- and R-(-)-Hex in mice was detected by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and the mechanism differences in the toxicokinetic behavior were analyzed by molecular docking. Good linearities, accuracies, and precisions were achieved for S-(+)- and R-(-)-Hex, with recoveries of 88.7~104.2% and RSDs less than 9.45% in nine tissues of mice. This established method was then used to detect the toxicokinetic of Hex enantiomers in mice after oral administration within 96 h. The results showed that the half-lives of S-(+)- and R-(-)-Hex were 3.07 and 3.71 h in plasma. Hex was mainly accumulated in the liver, followed by the kidneys, brain, lungs, spleen, and heart. The enantiomeric fraction (EF) values of Hex enantiomers in most of the samples were below 1, indicating that S-(+)-Hex decreased faster than its antipode. The molecular docking showed that the binding of S-(+)-Hex with P450arom was much more stable than R-(-)-Hex, which verified the fact that S-(+)-Hex was prefer to decrease in most of the tissues. The results of this study could be helpful for further evaluating the potential toxic risk of Hex enantiomers and for the development and usage of its pure monomer.