Application of Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Pollutant Screening

Abstract

Environmental pollution is one of the most significant public concerns in modern society, which is harmful to ecology and human health directly or indirectly. Among different types of environmental pollutants, environmental endocrine disruptors, drugs and personal care products are more serious in water and soil. In order to deal with the residues of environmental pollutants and avoid their long-term potential harm to human health, there is an urgent need to develop a rapid and accurate method for analyzing and monitoring environmental pollutants. As one of ambient ionization mass spectrometry, direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) has the advantage of ease of use, rapid analysis and minimum sample preparation. It can realize fast sampling under ambient conditions and serve a promising technique for environmental pollutant screening. In this review, the principle of DART-MS and its characteristics were introduced firstly, and then the application of DART-MS in the detection of pesticide residues, veterinary drugs and abused drugs, and environmental pollutants were briefly summarized. Finally, methodology and application of DART-MS in the screening of environmental pollutants were prospected.

Keywords

• direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (dart-ms)
• ambient ionization mass spectrometry
• sample preparation
• environmental pollutants
• screening