Optimization of suspect and non-target analytical methods using GC/TOF for prioritization of emerging contaminants in the Arctic environment

Abstract

Numerous chemicals have been manufactured through industrial activities and used as consumer products since the late 18th century. Non-target analysis is a new analytical tool to detect many chemicals in environmental samples and to prioritize emerging contaminants. In this study, suspect and non-target analytical methods were optimized using gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight (GC/TOF) to propose contaminants of emerging concern for the Arctic environment. A suspect analytical method was developed with qualification and qualifier ions, isotopic ratios, and retention times of 215 contaminants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to establish an in-house library. Non-target analytical method was also optimized with a deconvoluted ion chromatogram, which is a form that can possibly match the mass spectrum of the NIST library. Multiple environmental samples, such as seawater, air, soil, sediment, sludge, and iceberg, collected from the Arctic region were analyzed with suspect and non-target analysis of GC/TOF after the clean-up procedure with a solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The commonly detected contaminants in the Arctic environmental samples were siloxanes, organophosphate flame retardants, phthalates, synthetic musk compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Among them, siloxanes and organophosphate flame retardants were proposed to be contaminants of emerging concerns for the Arctic environment. This is the first report to prioritize emerging contaminants in the Arctic environment with suspect and non-target analysis of GC/TOF.