Colloque

Applications of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Toxicology

Michael A. Quillam

Membre a labase

Michael A. Quillam

Résumé du colloque

The chemical composition of environmental samples such as airborne particulate matter is very complex, consisting of hundreds of organic and inorganic components. Over the last decade considerable effort has been directed to the determination of the levels of known carcinogenic compounds, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as benzo[a]pyrene, in the organic solvent extractable fraction. In recent years, however, it has become clear from work with microbial mutagenesis assays and chemical fractionation techniques that there are many hazardous substances present in the environment and the workplace that are still largely uncharacterized. Studies have shown that much of the mutagenic activity in particulate extracts is associated with compounds other than the classical PAH carcinogens. In this paper, I will present some of the findings from our research directed towards the detection, identification and quantitation of mutagenic and carcinogenic substances in the environment and the workplace. Using a integrated separation /bioassay/chemical analysis approach, we have determined a variety of mutagenic PAH derivatives in the particulates from diesel exhaust, urban air, and a steel foundry. Combined GC-MS and LC-MS have played an essential role in this work.