Gabriel Munoz

Université de Montréal | UdeM · Department of Chemistry

Full-text available until late January 2019: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1YA3h94qquX43. Abstract: The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay can be useful for integrating precursors to perfluoroalkyl acids (pre-PFAAs) into the assessment of sites contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Current research gaps include risks of...

The comprehensive analysis of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) formulations has led in recent years to the discovery of novel classes of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Whether the pre-existing analytical methods for historically monitored PFASs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), could be transferable to a large bre...

In the last decade or so, concerns have arisen with respect to the widespread occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the environment, food, drinking water, and humans. In this study, the occurrence and levels of a large range of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in drinking water (bottled and tap water s...

The derailment of an unmanned train carrying crude oil and subsequent fire in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, led to the use of 33,000 liters of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) concentrate. While it is known that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) contained in AFFFs pose a potential environmental and health risk, critical knowledge gaps...

The present survey examines the trophodynamics of a suite of 19 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a temperate macrotidal estuary (Gironde, SW France). Across the 147 biota samples (18 taxa) collected, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and C8–C14 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) were the most recurrent analyt...

Cyanobacteria proliferate in warm, nutrient-rich environments and release toxic secondary metabolites (e.g., cyanotoxins, anabaenopeptins, etc.) into natural waters. Using the toxic secondary metabolites -contaminated water to irrigate crops could expose humans and biota to cyanotoxins, but the risk may be low if agricultural soils can sorb and ret...

The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence, spatial distribution, and ecotoxicological risk of pesticides and transformation products in surface waters of western Montérégie (Quebec, Canada). A total of 29 samples were collected from 11 rivers during the summers of 2019 and 2021, and the samples were analyzed for 48 pesticides an...

The proliferation of harmful waterborne cyanobacterial algal blooms, some of which can produce potent toxins, poses severe risks to environmental and human health. Academic and governmental monitoring efforts may be constrained by budget, time, and staff, and thus miss otherwise significant pollution events. Here, we report on the implementation of...

Background The intersection of the topics of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) bring together two disparate and complex subjects. Recently non-targeted analysis (NTA) for the discovery of novel PFAS in environmental and biological media has been shown to be valuable in multiple applications. Cla...

Some contemporary aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) contain n:3 and n:1:2 fluorotelomer betaines (FTBs), which are often detected at sites impacted by AFFFs. As new chemical replacements, little is known about their environmental fate. For the first time, we investigated the biotransformation potential of 5:3 and 5:1:2 FTBs and a commercial AFFF t...

Cyanobacteria proliferate in warm, nutrient-rich environments, and release cyanotoxins into natural waters. If cyanotoxin-contaminated water is used to irrigate agricultural crops, this could expose humans and other biota to cyanotoxins. However, cyanotoxins may be degraded by the diverse microbial consortia, be adsorbed or otherwise dissipate in a...

Methods targeting anionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic biota are well established, but commonly overlook many PFAS classes present in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). Here, we developed an analytical method for the expanded analysis of negative and positive ion mode PFAS in fish tissues. Eight variations of extraction so...

The present study assessed the bioaccumulation potential of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in ferns and linked root uptake behaviors to root characteristics and PFAS molecular structure. Tissue and subcellular-level behavioral differences between alternative and legacy PFAS were compared via an electron probe microanalyzer with energy d...

Limited monitoring data are available regarding the occurrence of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Here, we validated an analytical procedure for 42 PFAS with individual detection limits of 0.001-0.082 ng/L. We also evaluated how different sample pH conditions, dechlorinating agents, and storage holding times m...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in various industrial applications are pollutants of concern for the environment and human health. Drinking water consumption is one key exposure pathway to PFAS, as recently highlighted by multiple studies on their occurrence in tap and bottled water worldwide. However, PFAS quantification at low par...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are anthropogenic contaminants of emerging concern that are ubiquitous in the marine environment. This chapter provides recent insights into the main aspects of research on this class of compounds in the oceans. It describes their main uses and predominant sources in the marine environment and provides an...

The Valle de Bravo dam is an important source of drinking water supply for the Mexico City Conurbation (>26 million inhabitants) and is also a hotspot for nautical sports, recreational fishing, and tourism. However, anthropogenic pressures in the upper reaches of the basin have led to increased eutrophication and numerous harmful cyanobacterial blo...

The widespread distribution of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is a major concern due to their potential effects on human health and the environment. The insufficient sewage treatment plant infrastructures is a global problem most accentuated in less developed countries and results in the discharge of CECs to water bodies. Pacu (Piaractus m...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals reported in cosmetics and personal care products as ingredients, possible impurities in the raw material manufacturing process, or degradation products. The purpose of this study was to further delineate contributions of these varying PFAS sources to these products. Thirty-eight...

Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in freshwater ecosystems has focused primarily on legacy compounds and little is still known on the presence of emerging PFAS. Here, we investigated the occurrence of 60 anionic, zwitterionic, and cationic PFAS in a food web of the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada) near a major metropolitan a...

Quantification of drugs residues in wastewaters of different sources could help better understand contamination pathways, eventually leading to effluent regulation. However, limited data are available for hospital-derived wastewaters. Here, an analytical method based on automated on-line solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography tandem mass spec...

Zwitterionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are increasingly detected in aquatic environments. The magnitude of their concentration and increased frequency of detection worldwide raise questions on their presence in drinking water and associated health risk. Scientific knowledge on the identification of treatment technologies to effectively ca...

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are found in Antarctic wildlife, with high levels in the avian top predator south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki). As increasing PFAS concentrations were found in the south polar skua during the breeding season in Antarctica, we hypothesised that available prey during the breeding period contributes si...

The neurotoxic alkaloid β-N-methyl-amino-l-alanine (BMAA) and related isomers, including N-(2-aminoethyl glycine) (AEG), β-amino-N-methyl alanine (BAMA), and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), have been reported previously in cyanobacterial samples. However, there are conflicting reports regarding their occurrence in surface waters. In this study, we e...

We examined the influence of Montreal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents on two top predators, Walleye (Sander vitreus) and Sauger (Sander canadensis), with a focus on δ¹⁵N isotopic signatures and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These two fish species were collected in the summer 2013 in the St. Lawrence River upstream and down...

Limited information is available regarding the seasonal and spatial distribution of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in Canadian surface waters. Using improved analytical methods, we set out to evaluate the occurrence and risks of 15 EPA-priority EDCs in the St. Lawrence River and its main tributaries (69 locations). Surface water samples were...

The proliferation of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms is of concern due to the associated release of toxins affecting ecosystems and human health. The paralytic shellfish poison saxitoxin (STX) is a small polar alkaloid that can occur in inland and marine aquatic environments. Here, we optimized a fast and sensitive analytical method for the det...

EPA method 539.1 recently introduced an expanded list of priority endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), some of which were also included in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3). Though standardized methods are available for drinking water, analysis of steroid hormones and bisphenol A (BPA) at the ultra-trace level remains challeng...

Many classes of compounds are known or suspected to disrupt the endocrine system of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. This review of the sources and fate of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment includes classes of compounds that are “legacy” contaminants, as well as contaminants of emerging concern. EDCs included f...

Global warming and eutrophication may lead to increased incidence of harmful algal blooms and related production of cyanotoxins that can be toxic to aquatic plants. Previous studies have evaluated the phytotoxic effects of cyanotoxins on aquatic plants. However, most studies have evaluated only a limited number of plant species and cyanotoxins; the...

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are heterogenous in structure, chemical and physical properties, and their capacity to partition into various environmental matrixes. In many cases, these chemicals can disrupt the endocrine systems of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms when present at very low concentrations. Therefore, sensitive and varied...

Emerging PFAS were recently reported at sites impacted by aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and near major manufacturing centers; however, few studies have evaluated whether these can occur far from release sites. Here, newly identified PFAS were investigated in wild sporting fish from boreal freshwater ecosystems (background sites, 2013–2014 summ...

Zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly reported in terrestrial and aquatic environments, but their inputs to agricultural lands are not fully understood. Here, we characterized PFAS in 47 organic waste products (OWP) applied in agricultural fields of France, including historical and recent ma...

Technologies applicable at a field scale to mitigate soil and groundwater pollution by per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to the release of aqueous film‐forming foams are urgently needed. We demonstrate that modified bentonite clays as soil amendments can effectively reduce the leaching of PFAS from impacted soils. In batch experiments,...

Soils contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose long-term sources to adjacent water bodies and soil invertebrates. The study investigated the stabilization using a modified clay adsorbent (FLUORO-SORB100®) in reducing the bioaccumulation of 13 anionic PFAS by earthworms (Eisenia fetida), as compared to coal-based granular acti...

Zwitterionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) used in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) could face diverse environmental fates once released at military bases, airports, fire-training areas, and accidental release sites. Here, we studied for the first time the transformation potential of four electrochemical fluorination (ECF)-based PFA...

Harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs) can lead to the release of potent toxins that can seriously affect ecosystem integrity. Some freshwater watersheds are particularly at risk considering the threats to already imperiled wildlife. The consumption of tainted drinking water and contaminated food also raises concerns for human health. In...

The occurrence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) warrants further research in relation to land-sea transport and distribution in the water column. With its large physical scale and depths of up to 400 m, the estuarine system formed at the outlet of the St. Lawrence River offers a case-study to evaluate the longitudinal and vertical distrib...

Reproducible analytical procedures and rigorous quality control are imperative for an accurate monitoring of cyanobacterial toxins in environmental water samples. In this study, the short-term and long-term storage stability of diverse cyanotoxins (anatoxins, cylindrospermopsin, anabaenopeptins, and 12 microcystins) was evaluated in water samples,...

Tianjin, located in Bohai Bay, China, constitutes a relevant study area to investigate emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) due to its high population density, clustering of chemical and aircraft industries, as well as international airports, harbors, and oil rigs. In this study, 53 anionic, zwitterionic, and cationic PFASs were mon...

Studies on the environmental fate of polyfluoroalkyl substances have revealed a broad range of precursors degradability and yields to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). For those electrochemical fluorination-derived zwitterionic fluorosurfactants present in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), environmental persistence and potential contributions to perf...

Freshwater and marine seafood products purchased in Montreal, Canada, were screened for diverse veterinary drug residues including sulfonamides and potentiators, macrolides, lincosamides, nitrofurans, nitroimidazoles, amphenicols, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, one triphenylmethane dye and its leuco-metabolite, and tetracyclines. QuEChERS extract...

Repeated applications of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) in designated firefighting training areas has caused severe groundwater contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Many research efforts are currently engaged for the effective removal of these chemicals from environmental waters. In this study, we demonstrate that modifi...

With the increasing consumption of chemotherapy agents, residues of anticancer drugs may be increasingly found in hospital and municipal wastewaters. Quantification of these highly polar micropollutants remains challenging due to poor chromatographic retention on typical reversed phases. This study investigated different solid-phase extraction (SPE...

Cyanotoxins are associated with harmful cyanobacterial blooms, but also exist in biological soil crusts and soils irrigated with cyanobacteria-contaminated water. To achieve an accurate analysis of cyanotoxins in soil, effective extraction, purification and determination methods are imperative. The most challenging aspect is extracting cyanotoxins...

Critical knowledge gaps remain regarding the fate and effects of zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including assessment of their bioaccumulation potential. Here, biota soil accumulation factors (BSAFs) were assessed in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to soil microcosms amended with zwitte...

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of cyanobacterial origin have the potential to generate hundreds of secondary metabolites referred as cyanotoxins. Freshwater resources have been threatened by HABs and an increase of these episodes is of major concern worldwide for risk management and ecosystem impacts. To meet the need to rapidly screen a wide range of...

The neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), suspected to trigger neurodegenerative diseases, can be produced during cyanobacterial bloom events and subsequently affect ecosystems and water sources. Some of its isomers including β-amino-N-methylalanine (BAMA), N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine (AEG), and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) may show different...

The occurrence at different trophic levels of 17 poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and some of their precursors (e.g., perfluoroalkane sulfonamides, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA)), was investigated in riverine freshwater food webs in Southeastern France. Two fish species (Barbus barbus and...

The persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) raise concerns for environmental and human health. This has led to the gradual phase-out from production and commerce of some legacy PFAS. Fluoroalkylether compounds (ether-PFAS) are among the fluorinated alternative chemicals that are beginn...

A one-year monitoring study was conducted in a macrotidal estuary to assess the temporal variations and partitioning behavior of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and invertebrates including zooplankton (copepods, mysids) and shrimps were sampled on a monthly basis in the Giron...

The list of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) defined under U.S. EPA Method 539 was recently expanded to include additional hormones and bisphenol A (BPA). Here, we validated a fast and robust alternative method compliant with Method 539.1 requirements in diverse water matrixes (i.e., ultra-pure water, tap water, surface water, and wastewater i...

A nationwide survey was conducted on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in precipitation across mainland China. Twenty-two PFASs, including precursors to perfluoroalkyl acids (pre-PFAAs), were investigated in thirty-nine precipitation samples collected from twenty-eight cities. Trifluoroacetate (TFA), perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluoroo...

The occurrence and spatial distribution of selected pesticides were investigated along a 200-km reach of the St. Lawrence River (SLR) and tributaries in Quebec, Canada. Surface water samples (n = 68) were collected in the summer 2017 and analyzed for glyphosate, atrazine (ATZ), 8 systemic insecticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, fipron...

Human exposure to pesticides commands the implementation of food safety control, but few studies have provided a comparative assessment of conventional and organic products. This study set out to examine 22 pesticides in four distinct commodities (lettuce, apples, grapes, and tomatoes) from conventional and organic agriculture available to consumer...

This database presents the optimization of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for the analysis of EPA-priority endocrine disruptor compounds (13 hormones and bisphenol A). Various method parameters were tested and compared for improved sensitivity. Data related to the selectio...