Comprehensive Chemical Profiling Enhances Environmental Exposure Assessment

Why It Matters

Designers and engineers must consider the full lifecycle impact of their products, including the potential for chemical release and human exposure. Understanding the complex chemical landscape through these advanced analytical methods allows for more informed material selection and product design, ultimately contributing to safer and more sustainable outcomes.

Key Finding

Advanced analytical methods can identify a wide array of chemicals in our environment and bodies, with specific chemical types being more prevalent in different sources like water or consumer products. Using both LC and GC-HRMS together captures more chemicals than using just one.

Key Findings

• NTA and SSA are effective for detecting a broad range of chemicals in diverse exposure media (water, air, soil, dust, food, consumer products) and human biospecimens.
• Commonly detected chemical classes vary by media, including PFAS and pharmaceuticals in water, pesticides and PAHs in soil, and plasticizers in consumer products and human samples.
• The combination of Liquid Chromatography (LC) and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) broadens the detected chemical space compared to using a single technique.

Research Evidence

Aim: To review and assess the application of Non-Targeted Analysis (NTA) and Suspect Screening Analysis (SSA) techniques in characterizing the chemical exposome across various environmental media and human specimens.

Method: Literature Review

Procedure: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases like PubMed and Web of Science, focusing on keywords related to NTA, SSA, and different exposure media. The review analyzed detected chemicals, analytical platforms used, and identified knowledge and technology gaps in assessing chemical exposures.

Context: Environmental chemistry and human health, focusing on chemical exposure assessment.

Design Principle

Embrace holistic chemical profiling to ensure product safety and sustainability across all lifecycle stages.

How to Apply

When designing new products or redesigning existing ones, consult research on chemical exposures in relevant environmental media and human samples to make informed decisions about material sourcing and end-of-life considerations.

Limitations

The chemical space captured by NTA varies significantly depending on the analytical platform and the specific environmental medium being analyzed. Gaps in current technology and knowledge limit a complete assessment of all potential chemical exposures.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Scientists can use special tools to find many different chemicals in the environment and in people. This helps us understand what we are exposed to, which is important for making safer products and a healthier planet.

Why This Matters: Understanding the chemicals present in the environment and human bodies is crucial for designing products that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also safe for people and the planet.

Critical Thinking: How can designers proactively address the 'unknown unknowns' in chemical exposure when current analytical methods still have limitations?

IA-Ready Paragraph: The comprehensive chemical profiling techniques of Non-Targeted Analysis (NTA) and Suspect Screening Analysis (SSA) are vital for understanding the complex chemical exposome. As demonstrated by research such as Manz et al. (2023), these methods reveal a wide array of chemicals in environmental media and human samples, highlighting the need for designers to consider the full lifecycle impact of materials and products to ensure sustainability and minimize potential human exposure.

Project Tips

• When researching materials for your design project, look for studies that use advanced chemical analysis to understand potential environmental impacts.
• Consider how your chosen materials might break down or interact with the environment over time, and if they could release harmful chemicals.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the importance of material selection and its environmental implications in your design project.
• Use the findings to justify the choice of specific materials or the avoidance of others based on their potential to contribute to chemical exposure.

Examiner Tips

• Ensure that your design project demonstrates an awareness of the chemical lifecycle of materials used.
• Consider how your design choices might contribute to or mitigate environmental chemical pollution.

Independent Variable: Analytical techniques (NTA, SSA), analytical platforms (LC-HRMS, GC-HRMS), exposure media (water, air, soil, etc.).

Dependent Variable: Detected chemical space, types of chemicals identified, frequency of detection.

Strengths

• Provides a broad overview of current analytical capabilities for exposome research.
• Identifies specific chemical classes of concern in various environmental contexts.

Critical Questions

• What are the ethical considerations when designing products that may contribute to the chemical exposome?
• How can design education better incorporate principles of environmental chemistry and toxicology?

Extended Essay Application

• An Extended Essay could investigate the chemical composition of a specific product and its potential environmental impact using publicly available data or simplified analytical approaches.
• Research could focus on developing design strategies to minimize the use of chemicals identified as prevalent in environmental studies.

Source

Non-targeted analysis (NTA) and suspect screening analysis (SSA): a review of examining the chemical exposome · Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology · 2023 · 10.1038/s41370-023-00574-6