Metabolite identification in Ruditapes philippinarum after exposure to an artificial sweetener (Acesulfame-K) and UV filter (4-MBC).

Abstract

In the last decades several pollutants have been discharged in to the marine ecosystem causing alarming effects that awoke the social concern, triggering the implementation of legislation. Nowadays several new pollutants are discharged to the marine ecosystem in small quantity but constantly. Due to the improvement of new analytical techniques these pollutants, the so called “emerging pollutants”, are been identified and its occurrence has been determined in the environment. However, very little is known about the possible adverse effect of these emerging pollutants in the organism. In this context the present work evaluates possible biotransformation products of two EPs by the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in order to identify xenometabolites that could have negative impact in the functions of the organism. UPLC-GC/ quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOFMS) with automated data analysis software (Metabolynx™) was applied to identify the metabolites of the UV filter 4-MBC and the artificial sweetener acesulfame-k in the tissue of the Manila clam. 6 different metabolites were identified for 4-MBC while no metabolites were identified for ACE-K, suggesting that the UV filter is accumulated and metabolised to facilitate its excretion while the artificial sweetener is almost not accumulated and excreted unchanged. These results are mainly due to the physicochemical properties of the compound. The present study provides important information about the metabolism of 4-MBC and ACE-K which will be helpful for fully understanding the mechanism of action of these compounds. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the potential of the UPLC-GC/QTOFMS approach using Metabolynx™ software for fast and accurate identification of metabolites of EPs.