Recent Advances in the Methodology for Environmental and Food Matrix Analysis - a report on the 5th National Conference on Environmental Mass Spectrometry

This meeting, held on March 24th at the University of Chester, was an environmental mass spectrometry special interest group (EMSSIG) series event forming a part of the BMSS SIG meetings.

The main theme focussed on ‘Recent Advances in the Methodology for Environmental and Food Matrix Analysis’ and was linked to the Food and Nutrition SIG coordinated by Dr Simon Hird, thereby forming part of a conference week, during which three meetings were organised by Professor Chris Smith, which highlighted Nanotechnology and Food, and, Food Science and Technology.

In keeping with a trend in previous environmental sessions, now generalised at the BMSS annual meetings, several presentations highlighted the applications of mass spectrometry in highly topical areas. The meeting had an international flavour with presenters and delegates from Europe and the Middle East.

The oral and poster presentations were chosen specifically to reflect and balance the interests and activities of the mass spectrometry community interested in environmental & food analysis and the commercial and service organisations that meet these needs.

Since the last meeting in 2008 the pressure on Analysts to monitor ever-increasing numbers of compounds which are suspected (or convicted) of causing health problems to humans and wildlife is increasing. Some of the compounds that were of academic interest in terms of methodology design are now subject to legislation in terms of specific maximum levels which may be tolerated never more so than in the Food and Flavours sector. New emerging environmentally pollutants (EEP) originate from a variety of sources thus making the task for the analyst more difficult. The practitioners, in tandem with the Instrument manufacturers have risen to meet the challenge and this meeting gave a fascinating overview of where we currently are and, having a vested interest in our environment and the food chain, in seeing progress on all fronts.

Over 50 delegates (some of whom are shown in Figure 1) attended the meeting. To complement the Plenary and Session oral presentations by eminent scientists, 11 companies formed a trade show, which ran through the day to give an overview of commercially available products and solutions.