Occurrence of chemical contaminants in environmental matrices using non-targeted analysis and effect-based method: A systematic quantitative literature review

This systematic quantitative literature review examined the sample matrices and chemical contaminants identified in 95 ecotoxicity studies applying chemical non-targeted analysis in combination with effect-directed analysis (NTA-EDA). The most commonly occurring environmental matrices were sediment and wastewater effluent with this analysis scheme. Matrices that were underrepresented in this review, but would benefit from wider application of NTA-EDA methods, included groundwater, produced drinking water, reclaimed water, dust, air, and snow. The majority of chemicals, identified by their compound class, can be classified under persistent organic pollutants (POP), including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls, or endocrine disrupting chemicals like phthalates, hormones, steroids and their metabolites. While these represent a high focus on industrial chemical contaminants using current methodologies, a number of studies reported the lack of identification for polar transformation products despite high toxicity in polar fractions. Chemicals identified were also classified by their uses, referred to as compound types, allowing for compounds to be related to their use by humans rather than their chemical characteristics. The most common types included contaminants of emerging concern like pharmaceuticals and polar pesticides and POP including plasticisers, flame retardants and pesticides. A number of environmental matrices also contained compounds with highly polar and ionic characteristics. These include personal care products, surfactants, food additives and sweeteners which are becoming increasingly relevant in environmental contaminant monitoring. The most common compound types were not able to entirely account for toxicity within sample type suggesting the presence of unknown contaminants and transformation products that have yet to be discovered.