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Environmental forensic research for emerging contaminants in complex environmental matrices
Citation:
Jones-Lepp, T. AND J. Morgan. Environmental forensic research for emerging contaminants in complex environmental matrices. To be Presented at 2015 International Society of Exposure Science Conference, Henderson, NV, October 18 - 22, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has established criteria to address many of the significant traditional pollutants that have demonstrated to have adverse affects on environmental quality. However, new chemicals are being created almost daily, and these new chemicals, as well as older chemicals, are causing new and unforeseen adverse environmental outcomes. The research presented here focuses on analytical research tools and methods that were used to identify several novel emerging contaminants in a variety of environmental matrices.
Description:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has established criteria to address many of the significant traditional pollutants demonstrated to have adverse affects on environmental quality. However, new chemicals are being created almost daily, and these new chemicals, as well as older chemicals, are causing new and unforeseen adverse environmental outcomes. The research presented here focuses on analytical research tools and methods that were used to identify several novel emerging contaminants in a variety of environmental matrices: source waters, sediments, and fish tissue. One illustration is the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill. In this emergency response situation the major components of the chemical used to control the spill were elucidated within a 24-hour time-frame. This quick determination was only possible through the use of various advanced mass spectrometric techniques.Another example was the elucidation of a previously unknown contaminant related to three major fish kills in the Oklahoma Red River. What started out as an emergency response situation, turned into a two year research project. Low resolution LC-ion trap mass spectrometry was used to prescreen environmental samples, and then MS/MS experiments were performed on the most significant chromatographic peak(s). However, high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry had to be used to obtain an accurate formula and theoretical structure for the major chromatographic unknown(s). Ultimately, it took the use of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer to determine the structure of the major unknown contaminant. One final example will be in the use of relevant optimized analytical techniques to investigate a cross-section of chemical classes (i.e., antibiotics, illicit drugs, and endocrine active pharmaceuticals) in waters from across the US.