European analytical column no. 36 from the Division of Analytical Chemistry (DAC) of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) January 2008

Abstract

Modern analytical methods are indispensable in many disciplines, including medicine, biology and environmental protection, as well as being fundamental to chemistry and chemical technology. Nearly 50 % of European Union (EU) laws and regulations require strict analytical measurements to monitor compliance. Prof. M. Grasserbauer expressed this eloquently at EUROANALYSIS XIII in 2004 in Salamanca in his statement that ‘Analytical Chemistry is indispensable to democratic governance’. This is supported by the number of batch analyses per year carried out in Europe (ca. 10) and the astronomical amount of data resulting from continuous analytical monitoring. Nearly 70 % of European chemists consider chemical analysis as either the main or an extremely important part of their job description [1]. In the field of Analytical Chemistry, more than 100,000 papers are generated in Europe alone every year [2]. Therefore, it is not surprising that Analytical Science was proclaimed as a breakthrough science by EuCheMS. It is clearly stated in its documents that the need for analytical measurements arises in all research disciplines, industrial sectors and human activities that entail the need to know not only the identities and amounts of chemical components in a mixture, but also how they are distributed in space and time. Recent developments in this area have underpinned major advances in the biosciences, such as genome mapping and diagnostics. Further developments will improve our capability for real-time and remote analysis, and miniaturization will enhance our ability to undertake in situ and in vivo analysis. Increasing globalisation of Analytical Chemistry, together with the increasing range of tasks within its remit, put an escalating burden on analytical chemists with regard to education, research and development of new analytical methods and approaches, their publication and, above all, their practical application in everyday life. The activities of EuCheMSDAC [3] are focused in this direction and can provide helpful support in addressing these demanding challenges as demonstrated in the following paragraphs. In our opinion, the main task of DAC is to promote Analytical Chemistry, for example by attracting more young people to study this exciting field of chemistry and increasing general awareness of the importance of the subject.