Effect-directed analysis in environment research: current status and future challenges

Abstract

The increasingly severe chemical pollution poses treats to environmental and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA), based on a combination of biotesting, sample fractionation and chemical identification and quantification, is a powerful tool for identification of environmental toxicants in complex chemical mixtures in the environment. This review summarized recent advances in EDA, including sample extraction and fractionation, biological tests and chemical identification. The application of high throughput screening in EDA was discussed and challenges in future studies were also identified.