Our April 15 meeting will be at 12 pm US Eastern time. Our speakers will be four BP4NTA student members:
Noor Hamdan – Non-Target Identification of Organic Contaminants in Biosolid-Amended Soils Across the United States William Fahy – Nontargeted kinetics for identifying environmental transformation products and pathways Miranda Baker – Geolipidomics: Non-Targeted Analysis of Rapidly Heated Geologic Samples With Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Nathan Vinegas – Microplastics as Vectors of Organic Contaminants on Southern California Beaches: A TD/Py-GCxGC-TOFMS Study
Heads up! Best Practices for Non-Targeted Analysis (BP4NTA) is hosting a session at SETACNorth America in Montreal this November. The session is titled “Non-targeted analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry in environmental chemistry.” Keep an eye out when you’re submitting your abstracts!
As high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) becomes more accessible, its application in environmental chemistry is exponentially increasing. Notably, HRMS has expanded the use of non-targeted analysis (NTA), enabling studies without a pre-defined list of analytes and/or that seek to detect and identify chemicals for which analytical standards may not be available. HRMS– based NTA is especially valuable for the discovery of new contaminants or transformation products, as well as “exposomic” research aiming to characterize a broad range of chemical mixtures across diverse environmental and biological matrices. While these methods are already producing valuable data and insights, challenges remain. For example, there is still need for improvements in study reproducibility and reporting practices, and expanding access to high‑quality spectral libraries, reference databases, and computational tools. This session will highlight recent advances in HRMS and NTA methods, discuss shortcomings that have yet to be addressed, and showcase novel environmental studies/applications utilizing these techniques.
Our March 25 meeting will be at 12 pm US Eastern time. Zoom link here and full information below. Our speaker will be Dr. Raees Ahmad, who will give a talk entitled: “Effect-directed Analysis of Hazardous Organic Chemicals Released from Ship Hull Hydroblasting Effluents and Their Emission to Marine Environments”.
Raees Ahmad is currently a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He holds undergraduate and master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Malakand, Pakistan, where he focused on the photodegradation of dyes using molecularly imprinted polymers. He earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea, where he developed an advanced effect-directed analysis (EDA) technique that integrates offline/online two-dimensional liquid chromatography–Mass Spectrometry with in-silico QSAR tools to identify both targeted and non-targeted contaminants in environmental matrices. At CAES, his research focuses on the suspect and non-targeted analysis of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and their transformation products in wastewater influent and effluent from treatment plants, as well as studying their accumulation and effects in plants.
Abstract: Hydroblasting operation on ship hulls is one of the major sources of chemical discharge into marine ecosystems, releasing biocides, binders, pigments, and additives. These activities contribute an estimated 6% to 17% of the daily biocide input from antifouling paint residues. However, most studies to date have focused primarily on target biocides, leaving other toxic chemical classes inadequately explored. This study applied effect-directed analysis to assess hydroblasting effluents using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Toxicity screenings of both unfractionated and fractionated effluent samples revealed significant toxic effects on zebrafish embryos. Non-target analysis identified 68 compounds in the positive electrospray ionization mode and 25 compounds in the negative mode. Among these, specific toxic compounds responsible for the observed effects were identified within the fractions, with seven toxicants confirmed at Level 1 identification using reference standards. Quantitative analysis estimated the release of these toxicants to range from 0.16 to 121.83 g for the studied ship. When extrapolated to global hydroblasting operations, annual emissions of these toxic chemicals were estimated to be over 16 tons. These findings underscore the substantial environmental risks associated with hydroblasting effluents and emphasize the need for targeted mitigation strategies to reduce their ecological impact on marine ecosystems.
We are pleased to invite submissions for short presentations to be held during BP4NTA monthly webinars in March (03/18/2026) and April (04/15/2026).
This initiative is intended to provide an opportunity for student members to share current research, emerging ideas, innovative methods, or relevant projects with the broader community. Selected speakers will deliver 15–20 minute presentations, and in the end we will have a moment for questions and brief discussion.
If you are interested in presenting, please submit a brief abstract (approximately 200–300 words) that includes:
Presentation title
Presenter name(s) and affiliation
A concise description of the topic and its relevance
Please send your abstract to bp4nta@gmail.com by 03/07/26.
We look forward to highlighting the breadth of work within our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Please join us for our monthly meeting on February 18th, 12 pm EST. Dr. Oliver Fiehn will be presenting his talk, titled “MS/MS is not enough: retention time prediction and large-scale analyses in MassWiki.Metabolomics.us“.
Prof. Oliver Fiehn has pioneered developments and applications in metabolomics with over 500 publications to date with a current h-index 133, i10 index 484. He started his career as group leader at the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany. Since 2004 he is faculty member in the College of Biological Sciences (MCB department) and Professor at the UC Davis Genome Center, overseeing his research laboratory and the satellite core service laboratory in metabolomics research. In 2012 he became the Director of the UC Davis West Coast Metabolomics Center, supervising 30 staff operating 16 mass spectrometers. To focus on large cohort studies and translational metabolomics, he has added the ThermoFisher Center of Excellence in Clinical Metabolomics at the UC Davis clinical campus in Sacramento, CA since 2021. In public outreach, the West Coast Metabolomics Center holds monthly public webinars, has a YouTube channel, a newsletter, invites international scholars to research visits and organizes two metabolomics professional courses per year.
We are ready to kick off 2026 with our first meeting on January 21 at 12 pm EST. It has been designed to be both interactive and engaging and should provide attendees the opportunity to give valuable input to the steering committee. It will also allow you to provide input on the current direction of the group and its subcommittees. Lastly, you will have some interaction in regard to the speakers and sectors you are most interested in hearing from. We are currently forming the speaker list for 2026 and are seeking speakers that will provide professional value to our membership.
Please recall that nominations for the Kathy Peter Outstanding Service Award are still being accepted. Please see the previous post for instructions on how to submit nominations.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Kathy T. Peter Memorial BP4NTA Outstanding Service Award! To nominate a deserving BP4NTA member, please fill out this form by February 17, 2026.
The BP4NTA Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual for their outstanding contributions and service to BP4NTA in support of the BP4NTA mission. Such contributions may include, for example: enabling the inclusion and integration of diverse voices and perspectives in BP4NTA products and projects through exceptional leadership; dedicated involvement in and visionary contributions to BP4NTA operations, committees, and/or scientific products; enthusiastic recruitment and mentorship of BP4NTA members (particularly early-career scientists and stakeholder/non-researcher members), fostering their participation in BP4NTA committees and projects; or committed advocacy to raise awareness of BP4NTA goals and products within the larger NTA community and promote external collaborations. Selection is based on the quality of the individual’s contributions to BP4NTA and the impact of their service on the quality of BP4NTA operations and/or projects (75%), and the quantity of service contributions to BP4NTA, including the time spent on service to BP4NTA (25%).
This award is named in memory of Kathy Peter, who was a highly active and influential BP4NTA member. She tragically passed away in late 2024. An article highlighting her career achievements, including her work with BP4NTA was recently published in ES&T. Help us continue her legacy by nominating deserving folks for this year’s award.
Please join us for our monthly meeting on November 18th, 12 pm EST. Our speaker, Michael Rush, is a Distinguished Chemist at Edwards Lifesciences, specializing in advanced mass spectrometry and non-target analysis. As co-chair of the BP4NTA E&L technical subcommittee, Michael drives best practices and workflow harmonization to improve reproducibility and innovation in chemical characterization
Abstract: Non-targeted analysis (NTA) continues to evolve as a critical tool for comprehensive chemical characterization, particularly in complex matrices such as medical device extractables and leachables (E&L). Recent work, including our publication in Analytical Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04247), demonstrates how advanced mass spectrometric workflows can improve reliability and reproducibility in E&L studies. This research highlights issues with quantitation strategies for medical device biocompatibility.
A second focus of this presentation will be communicating confidence in identifications—a cornerstone for regulatory acceptance and scientific transparency. We will explore the ISO10993-18 and FDA draft guidance in respect to how Edwards reports confidence levels in identifications.
Finally, we will provide an update on the BP4NTA E&L Technical Subcommittee, which aims to harmonize best practices for NTA in E&L testing. The subcommittee’s initiatives include integrating regulatory guidance, promoting collaboration across industry and academia, and developing educational resources to support newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. These efforts seek to advance reproducibility, foster innovation, and strengthen community standards for non-targeted workflows.
We are pleased to have three excellent candidates running in the 2025 election for BP4NTA steering committee members! All paid members are eligible to vote and will receive an email with voting instructions. Due to complications with website upgrades creating difficulties with membership renewals this year, anyone with a paid membership as of September 1, 2025 or later is eligible to vote in 2025. Though the election this year is not competitive, we still require a quorum of eligible voters to participate in order to appoint the new steering committee members. Get you votes in!
Vice Chair: Dr. Natalia Soares Quinete
(3 year term of vice chair/chair/past chair)
I’m Dr. Natalia Soares Quinete, and I’m honored to be considered for the role of Chair of the BP4NTA Steering Committee. Currently, I’m an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University (North Miami, FL). My research focuses on the assessment and understanding of persistent organic pollutants and emerging contaminants —their sources, distribution, fate in environmental and biological systems, and potential impacts on human and animal health. To support this work, I’ve been developing and advancing analytical methods and tools for non-targeted analysis using mass spectrometry. Many of you may already know me through my participation in the ENTACT project led by the U.S. EPA, and as a member of the BP4NTA community since 2018. Over the years, I’ve contributed to leadership roles, serving as Chair of the Publications Committee, and actively participating in working groups such as the ChemSpace Tool, PFAS Working Group, and the Study Reporting Tool. These efforts have focused on promoting best practices and fostering collaboration across academic, governmental, and industry sectors. As Chair, my vision is to continue strengthening the impact of our network by promoting and refining best practices in non-targeted analysis, expanding partnerships across diverse sectors, and broadening participation and collaboration, especially from underrepresented regions and institutions.
I am deeply committed to BP4NTA and excited about the opportunity to help guide our community forward.
Operations Liaison: Anna Feerick
(2 year term)
Anna Feerick is a sixth-year graduate student at the University of California, Davis, and focuses on developing non-targeted prioritization approaches and machine learning applications to define chemical space. Since joining BP4NTA in 2022, she has been a member of the website management team and helped author a review paper on the chemical exposome. She has spent the last year as the webmaster and LinkedIn manager for BP4NTA and is looking to expand her responsibilities as the Operational Liaison. In addition to this work, she serves as the co-lead of the GC-NTA subgroup and is excited to continue BP4NTA’s communications with the broader non-targeted community.
Treasurer: Dr. Carrie McDonough
(2 year term)
I am an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, where I study bioaccumulation and toxicokinetics of novel and known organic contaminants. I use high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioanalytical tools to understand how external exposure to complex contaminant mixtures translates to internal dose. I look forward to getting more involved in BP4NTA and contributing to the community!
