Non-target screening of environmental samples by low and high resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS)

• The already substantial number of different organic chemical substances emitted to, and circulating in the environment is increasing. Due both to this growing number of chemicals, and the accumulating knowledge of their potential negative environmental and health effects, the number of emerging contaminants in Europe and elsewhere is also increasing. In regular environmental analysis, a targeted approach is generally used, i.e. the analytes of interest are selected before making measurements. However, the problem with targeted methods is that chemicals, which are not initially anticipated, are not detected regardless of how high their concentration might be. Thus the non-target approaches are needed to identify the unknowns and to reveal a more complete profile of contaminants. In this study we utilized modern techniques, such as high and low resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) combined with either ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), gas chromatography (GC) or multidimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) to analyze wastewater, sludge, sediment and biota samples. This approach proved to be useful, a number of anthropogenic compounds have been tentatively identified and included: pharmaceuticals and personal care products, plasticizers and flame retardants, polymer additives, and other well-known persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, full-scan acquisition allows retrospective analysis for emerging contaminants years after the data has been acquired.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

non-target screening

time of flight mass spectrometry

environmental contaminants

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