For issues of both ecosystem and human health, identifying toxicants and other important bioactive chemicals in complex samples composed of many different contaminants is a challenging analytical task.  Here, we present the use of high resolution quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry to characterize the occurrence and fate of otherwise uncharacterized trace organic contaminants in stormwater runoff and exposed fish.  To characterize contaminant discharges to urban receiving waters, we first analyzed highway runoff prior to environmental discharge along with base and storm flows in urban creeks receiving stormwater.  In urban stormwater and highway runoff, we detected a number of chemical classes, including pesticides, PPCPs, cannabimimetic agent, and natural products.  Ethoprophos, an insecticide observed in stormwater runoff was confirmed via target MS/MS characterization and a reference standard.  To understand contaminant uptake processes and evaluate potential toxicants, we then analyzed paired water-tissue samples from coho salmon experiencing acute mortality when exposed to highway runoff.   After data reduction and prioritization, suspect analysis detected 24 chemical candidates common to stormwater runoff, liver, and gill samples.  Such investigations clearly point to the importance of combining chemical analysis with biologically based tools that allow for a comprehensive and holistic analysis of contaminant occurrence and fate in aquatic systems, with particular emphasis on identifying contaminants with bioactive and pharmacological properties.  Low-impact, green infrastructure is often used to treat stormwater runoff in the urban environment.  To evaluate a typical bioinfiltration-based stormwater treatment system (61 cm column of 60% sand, 15% compost, 15% shredded bark, and 10% drinking water treatment residuals), we analyzed samples from bench top soil columns.  In the untreated stormwater runoff, 3916 compounds were detected, 36% of which were not observed in the stormwater after soil column infiltration.<br/>

Suspect and non-target screening of organic contaminants In stormwater runoff and exposed fish

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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