Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers
Published on: October 5, 2017
Tales of the tides: Pattern-based non-target analysis of the Elbe River
Jonas R L Schneider1, Klaus Kümmerer2, Jörn Logemann3
1Institut für Nachhaltige Chemie, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Universitaetsallee 1, Lüneburg 21335, Germany; Institut für Hygiene und Umwelt, Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft, Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Marckmannstraße 129b, Hamburg 20539, Germany.
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to identify previously undetected organic micropollutants (OMPs) in a tidal river system using pattern-based non-target analysis (NTA). Tidal rivers are complex hydrological systems with constantly changing water levels, flow rates, and flow directions, posing significant challenges for monitoring contaminant behavior and fate. In a previous study, we demonstrated that these conditions create distinctive spatiotemporal pollutant patterns for target analytes, differing fundamentally from unidirectional river systems, ranging from tidally oscillating pesticide plumes to stable pharmaceutical concentrations from continuous wastewater inputs. Here, we employed high-frequency sampling with NTA and statistical methods to unravel additional contaminants with tidal-related patterns in the Elbe River, Germany. Two sampling campaigns (August 2022, February 2023) were conducted at upstream and downstream locations spanning Hamburg's metropolitan area. We analyzed 404 hourly composite samples using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). Statistical methods (differential analysis, correlation analysis, variance analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis) prioritized non-target features based on similarity to target micropollutant patterns exhibiting tidal-related dynamics. Seven micropollutants were identified and confirmed: pharmaceutical metabolites (phenylethylmalonamide, N-desmethyltramadol, O-desmethyltramadol), industrial additives (triisopropanolamine, 1,3-diphenylguanidine), and niche chemicals (tributylphosphine oxide, ethyl centralite), several have rarely been reported in surface waters. This study provides novel insights into micropollutant dynamics in tidal rivers, highlighting the importance of high-frequency sampling for capturing contamination in tidally influenced waters. Importantly, our workflow was implemented by a single analyst using standard regulatory equipment, demonstrating that comprehensive chemical characterization of complex tidal systems is achievable for routine monitoring laboratories.
More Related Videos
05:46Identification of Pharmaceuticals in The Aquatic Environment Using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and Elimination of Erythromycin Through Photo-Induced Degradation
Published on: August 1, 2018
08:54Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications
Published on: November 5, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Tidal Forces
Streamlines, Streaklines, and Pathlines
Typical Model Studies
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Derivatives: Problem Solving
Partial Differential Equations