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Abstract: A strong trend toward using highly selective mass spectrometry technologies for screening of multiple mycotoxins has been observed in recent years. In the present study, the process of validation of a multimycotoxin screening method based on liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry method is presented. The method was intended for the simultaneous screening of the major Fusarium toxins (deoxynivalenol, 3‐ and 15‐acetyl deoxynivalenol, T‐2 and HT‐2 toxins, zearalenone, enniatins A, A1, B, and B1, and beauvericin) in wheat. The sample preparation protocol was based on a double extraction (methanol followed by acetonitrile/water mixture) and purification through solid‐phase extraction C18 column. To provide insights for full exploitation of the potential of the double‐stage high‐resolution mass spectrometry detection, a full‐scan acquisition event followed by a sequence of 5 fragmentation events (variable data‐independent acquisition) was set for mycotoxin detection, the latter to be exploited for confirmatory purposes. Method analytical performances were evaluated through in‐house validation and small‐scale interlaboratory study, designed according to Commission Regulation 519/2014/EU, setting performance requirements for screening methods for mycotoxins. Screening target concentrations were close to European Union maximum permitted or indicative levels. The in‐house validation provided the precision of the response under repeatability conditions and the intermediate precision (both resulting lower than 30%), the cutoff value, and the rate of false suspect results for negative (free of the mycotoxin of interest) samples, which resulted lower than 0.1% in all cases. The collaborative study provided reproducibility and laboratory independent cutoff values. Analysis of reference materials proved method trueness and suitability for screening of the major Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat. Finally, the applicability of the full‐scan/variable data‐independent acquisition detection approach was successfully tested on a set of naturally contaminated wheat samples, where 2 characteristic product ions could be detected for all identified mycotoxins even at levels in the low μg/kg range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluctuation in the number of people in tourist areas affects the wastewater quality and quantity. Constructed wetlands (CWs) aim to simulate physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring in natural environments for wastewater treatment and are considered a sustainable system. The current study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of in-vessel CWs for supporting the wastewaters treatment plants in periods of overloading. Such approach can be quickly implementable, economic, and the CWs can be fast regenerated in the framework of sustainable good practices. Three pilot scale CWs were prepared in as many containers layering 10 cm of gravel, 60 cm of sand and 10 cm of gravel, and placing pieces of giant reed rhizomes in the upper layers. The bottom of each CW had a tap, and CWs were irrigated with a real municipal sewage three times a week. Before each new irrigation, the tap was opened, and the effluent collected for determining gross parameters, elemental composition, and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). CWs significantly reduced almost all gross parameters considered and half the CECs, except for a couple of metabolites of corresponding parental compounds. With regards to the potentially toxic elements, all reduced their concentration from the influents to the effluents. The results of this study were promising and highlighted good efficiency of constructed wetlands as pre-treatment of real municipal sewage to reduce the overloading of the wastewater treatment plant. [Display omitted] • Containerized constructed wetlands were used to pre-treat real municipal sewage. • Almost all gross parameters significantly reduced in effluents. • Almost all potentially toxic elements significantly reduced in effluents. • Ten contaminants of emerging concern out of 20 significantly reduced in effluents. • Two metabolites increased their concentration in effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]