Session: Transformation Products of Emerging Contaminants: What are they, where are they, and how do we find them?
Session chairs: Amanda Brennan, Denise MacMillan, Aero Renyer
Description: The properties of contaminants can transform due to environmental and/or biological interactions and reactions, however the occurrence, fate, and toxicity of transformation products (TPs) are largely unknown. Investigation of TPs from emerging contaminants is critical to better inform environmental and human health risk assessments by filling data gaps. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and non-targeted analysis (NTA) are important tools for the identification of TPs of emerging concern. Despite the growing availability and use of such tools, identification is still a challenge due to 1) the difficulty in predicting transformation pathways for environmentally relevant chemicals, 2) abundance and complexity of data generated with HRMS and NTA techniques, 3) complexity of matrices, 4) chemical variety, and 5) lack of standards. This session will focus on (but is not limited to): identification of novel biological and environmental TPs and pathways; occurrence and effects of TPs; development, advances, and availability of analytical and computational tools (e.g., prediction tools and databases) and workflows for identification; and application to environmental and biological matrices for any class of emerging organic contaminants, including cannabinoid pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).