Discovering Chemicals of Emerging Arctic Concern: Application of New Analytical Approaches to Human Biomonitoring

Abstract

Different analytical strategies are used to discover chemicals of emerging concern in the Arctic. While traditional targeted analyses allow for the identification and quantification of chemicals with a priori knowledge of their presence, semi-targeted and untargeted analyses also permit samples obtained in the framework of human biomonitoring studies to be screened for the presence of unknown or unsuspected pollutants. We recently applied these different analytical strategies to human biomonitoring studies conducted in various regions of the Arctic. Chemical families targeted in plasma samples include polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans as well as perfluorinated compounds. Targeted interrogation of the non polar purified extracts revealed the presence of chlorobenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated naphthalenes, polychlorinated terphenylenes, short-chain chlorinated paraffins and natural halogenated compounds. Through untargeted analyses of extracts, thousands of entities are detected. Chemometric methods such as Kendrick mass defect plot and isotopic pattern detection can be used to attribute unknowns to the proper chemical family and facilitate compound identification. These innovative strategies will help identifying chemicals of emerging Arctic concern that should be included in future biomonitoring studies and considered for inclusion under the Stockholm Convention.