2024 SETAC Europe Poster: High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Solutions to the Challenge of Non-Target Transformation Product Identification Presented by the 2023 EFSA Drinking Water Guidance Document

2024 SETAC Europe Poster: High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Solutions to the Challenge of Non-Target Transformation Product Identification Presented by the 2023 EFSA Drinking Water Guidance Document

The EFSA guidance document on the impact of water treatment processes on residues of active substances or their metabolites in water abstracted for the production of drinking water was issued in August 2023 (DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8194). In general, the guidance covers the identification and exposure assessment of transformation products (TPs) of Biocidal and Plant Protection Products (PPPs) using experimental and in silico methods. This does not just cover the effects of water treatment on the active substances, but also on their transformation products along with an impact assessment covering the environment, human health, and domesticated animals. 

Drinking water treatment is generally performed in several ways; the simplest being filtration (over activated carbon or sand) to absorb contaminants, to active breakdown with processes such as chlorination with sodium hypochlorite or chlorine, chlorination with chloramine, pre-oxidation with chlorine dioxide, ozonation, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection or a combination of several processes. The guidance provides methods for simple laboratory procedures which are intended to be performed without the need for complex and expensive equipment. 

However, performing the laboratory tests is not the major challenge when considering this guidance. The number and complexity of potential transformation products can be great when considering the multiple processes involved. This undoubtedly will lead to extensive efforts to identify many transformation products creating the major challenge of non-targeted identification of potential TPs by LC-MS/MS or other structure elucidation techniques. This will likely be more challenging in the absence of any radiolabelled substances for active ingredients or their metabolites. 

This presentation focuses on the strategies that can be employed using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRAM) with (U)HPLC to perform non-targeted identification using available tools such as instrument automation and software interrogation on samples derived from water treatment processes.    

Rory Mumford and Kalumbu Malekani presented this research at the SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting,  5-9 May 2024, in Seville, Spain. 

Download the poster:

2024 SETAC Europe High Res Mass Spectrometry Solutions to the Challenge of Non-Target Transformation Product Id RM

Our presenters:

Latest Resources

See all resources