Assessment of organic micropollutants in environmental and food samples by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: A spatiotemporal analysis

Abstract

The presence of organic microcontaminants in the environment is an increasing problem that poses new and complex challenges for both human health and ecosystem integrity. Some of these chemical compounds can have significant impacts on terrestrial and aquatic biota, as well as potential risks to public health. Two of the most relevant sources responsible for releasing these contaminants into the environment are agricultural activities, due to the intensive use of plant protection products, and the discharge of urban wastewater that does not receive adequate treatment before being released into aquatic environments. Despite several decades of research on the role of contaminants in the environment, additional information is still needed regarding their distribution, toxicity, and impact, not only of the parent compounds but also of their transformation products and excretion metabolites (as is the case of pharmaceuticals).