Early-life chemical exposome: Comprehensive strategies for wide-scope screening of organic compounds

• Published in: TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Vol. 180; p. 117903
• Main Authors: Guerrini, Camilla, Sunyer-Caldú, Adrià, Gil-Solsona, Ruben, Escribano, Joaquín, Vinaixa, Maria, Gago-Ferrero, Pablo, Ramírez, Noelia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Chemical exposome; Early-life; Exposomics; High-resolution mass spectrometry; Non-targeted analysis; Suspect screening analysis; Wide-scope screening; Early-life; Wide-scope screening; Non-targeted analysis; Chemical exposome; Exposomics; High-resolution mass spectrometry; Suspect screening analysis
• ISSN: 0165-9936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2024.117903

Exposure to organic compounds during early-life stages can disrupt human development and increase susceptibility to adverse health outcomes later in life. Despite evidence of these impacts, research has primarily focused on targeted analyses, missing the complex nature of early-life exposures. Comprehensive approaches are needed to better characterize these complex mixtures. Recent advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry and computational science have enabled the comprehensive analysis of numerous chemicals through wide-scope screening approaches, yet their application in early-life exposome studies is still limited. This review critically examines studies from the past decade using wide-scope screening to investigate the early-life chemical exposome, emphasizing organic compounds. It evaluates each step of the analytical workflow, including sample collection, preparation, analysis, and data processing, and concludes with recommendations for future research to improve understanding of the early-life chemical exposome and its health implications. [Display omitted] •Critical review of wide-scope screening strategies for the early-life chemical exposome.•Overview of the studies from 2013 organized by biological matrix and data processing.•In-deep analysis of knowledge gaps and research needs.•Recommendations of strategies enhance each step of the workflow.•Emphasis on the need for standardized methodologies.