High resolution mass spectrometric suspect screening, wide-scope target analysis of emerging contaminants and determination of legacy pollutants in adult black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa in the Netherlands - A pilot study.

The Dutch breeding population of the black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa has declined substantially over recent decades; the role of contaminants is unknown. We analysed liver samples from 11 adult birds found dead on their breeding grounds in SW Friesland 2016-2020, six from extensive, herb-rich grasslands, five from intensive grasslands. We carried out LC and GC wide-scope target analysis of more than 2400 substances, LC suspect screening for more than 60,000 substances, target analysis for Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb, organo-phosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), dechlorane plus compounds and selected polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs), and bioassay for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDDs/PDBFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs). Residues of 29 emerging contaminants (ECs) were determined through wide-scope target analysis. Another 20 were tentatively identified through suspect screening. These contaminants include industrial chemicals (personal care products, surfactants, PAHs and others), plant protection products (PPPs) and pharmaceuticals and their transformation products. Total contaminant load detected by wide-scope target analysis ranged from c. 155 to c. 1400 ng g-1 and was generally lower in birds from extensive grasslands. Heatmaps suggest that birds from intensive grasslands have a greater mix and higher residue concentrations of PPPs, while birds from extensive grasslands have a greater mix and higher residue concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). All four metals and two OPFRs were detected. All tested PBDEs were below the respective LODs. Bioassay revealed presence of PBDDs, PBDFs and dl-PCBs. Further research is required to elucidate potential health risks to godwits and contaminant sources.

A mouse's tail: how to settle an insurance dispute.

Over the last years insurance companies have shown an increased interest in identifications of pest species, either as a form of risk assessment or to address liability issues. This paper describes a case report of such a forensic insurance investigation. The names of the corporations involved have been withheld in compliance with a pre-existing confidentiality agreement. A sea container containing sterile goods was shipped from China to the Netherlands. Upon inspection at its final destination, the contents were declared lost due to the presence of a dead mouse. Determination of which company should be held liable for this loss depended on where the mouse entered the container. The specimen was identified as belonging to the genus Apodemus (Muridae) based on morphology. Two species, A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis occur in the Netherlands, two different species, A. agrarius and A. draco, occur in the relevant area in Eastern China. The distribution areas of these Dutch and Chinese Apodemus species do not overlap. Because the specimen was adolescent and partly mummified, key morphological characters for species-level identification were missing or not discernable. Published literature and sequence data available on GenBank showed that the four candidate species could be distinguished based on Cytochrome B barcode sequences. Given the decayed condition of the specimen, we expected possible DNA degradation. Therefore, both internal Cyt B primers (designed to amplify a short nucleotide sequence) and universal primers (which amplify a fourfold larger fragment) were employed. Remarkably, the primerset that was designed to amplify a short Cyt B sequence of A. draco amplified a well-studied pseudogene of A. sylvaticus. Both the Cyt B and the pseudogene sequence confirmed that the specimen in question is A. sylvaticus. Contamination of the sterile goods must therefore had taken place in the Netherlands.