Learn more on how to track complex mixtures of chemicals in the environment this scientific paper co-authored by our PrecisionTox partner Dr. Beate I. Escher (UFZ)
Chemicals have improved our quality of life, but the resulting environmental pollution has the potential to cause detrimental effects on humans and the environment. People and biota are chronically exposed to thousands of chemicals from various environmental sources through multiple pathways. Environmental chemists and toxicologists have moved beyond detecting and quantifying single chemicals to characterizing complex mixtures of chemicals in indoor and outdoor environments and biological matrices. We highlight analytical and bioanalytical approaches to isolating, characterizing, and tracking groups of chemicals of concern in complex matrices. Techniques that combine chemical analysis and bioassays have the potential to facilitate the identification of mixtures of chemicals that pose a combined risk
Chemicals are the basis of life, but some anthropogenic organic chemicals pose inherent dangers. Pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other synthetic chemicals can enter the environment and the food chain, causing unwanted effects and disease. Medical research indicates that as much as two-thirds of chronic human disease risk cannot be explained by genetics alone and may result from the environment or gene-environment interactions (1). Furthermore, the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health has estimated that 16% of global premature deaths are linked to pollution (2)
