Analytical Methods for Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Identifier:  imarina:9446697

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9446697

Authors:  Fontanals Torroja, Núria / Marcé Recasens, Rosa Maria

Abstract:
The occurrence of organic compounds of emerging concern (CECs) in the environment has given rise to growing unease. Although most CECs have been present in the environment for years, some of them have only recently been identified. Thus, some of these compounds remain unregulated and their toxicity and risk unstudied. They occur in different environmental compartments at trace levels (low ppb or ppt). Moreover, CECs belong to different families with several origins and have a broad range of physical-chemical properties. To respond to this situation, sensitive and selective analytical methods have been developed to determine different types of CECs in a broad range of environmental samples. Most of these analytical methods comprise sample preparation followed by chromatographic separation coupled to mass spectrometry. The specific requirements at each step of the analytical method are linked to the properties of the contaminants and sample matrix.