Insights into the analytical procedures for the detection of emerging contaminants from water, soils, and sediments

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are chemicals that have the potential to end up in the environment and pose risk to ecosystem. ECs can be detected in water, sediment, and soils by using liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) target analysis methods which provide high selectivity and low detection limits compatible with environmentally realistic concentrations (ng/L or µg/L). Sample preparation is needed for clean-up of environmental matrices and to concentrate ECs in the sample. Solid-phase extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction are commonly used sample preparation techniques for aquatic and solid samples, respectively. Lately, nontarget screening for the determination of nonspecific contaminants and their associated transformation products in environmental samples through high-resolution MS technologies and advanced data evaluation procedures such as structure elucidation have started to gain importance. This chapter contains elaborated knowledge on analytical procedures including sample preparation and MS tools for target and nontarget screening in water, soils, and sediment. Moreover, challenges and future perspectives are addressed for analytical procedures used for detection of ECs in water, soils, and sediment.