Chromatography
Monitoring emerging pollutants and the future of environmental analysis
International Labmate meets with Leon Barron on the banks of the River Thames to fi nd out what changes he’s seeing in river pollution and how advances in lab technology is helping to capture this information.
London is pioneering an effort to capture sewage overfl ows before they reach the Thames.
The ability to monitor and analyse pollutants in our waterways is a critical challenge for laboratories worldwide.
As industrial processes advance and urban populations grow, the presence of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and microplastics in rivers and lakes has become a pressing concern.
Dr Leon Barron, Reader in Analytical and Environmental Sciences at Imperial College London, is at the forefront of research into emerging contaminants, including in the River Thames.
His work, alongside that of other environmental scientists and technicians, is shaping the future of pollutant monitoring and regulatory frameworks.
Dr Leon Barron is leading research into emerging contaminants found in the River Thames
Understanding the sources of pollution
Dr Barron and his team have spent years investigating the presence and impact of chemicals in the environment.
‘We started about 10 years ago looking at pharmaceuticals in the River Thames because of the issue of sewage overfl ows,’ he explains.
‘These substances serve as markers of urban activity and allow us to study their use and effects on humans, aquatic life, and ecosystems.’
Over time, this research expanded to include pesticides, tyre wear particles, and per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’.
PFAS compounds, commonly found in waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, and fi refi ghting foams, are of particular concern due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.
‘We now have analytical methods to measure nearly 50 different PFAS quantitatively in river water, wastewater, and tap water,’ Dr Barron states.
The role of analytical instruments in environmental monitoring
Advanced instrumentation is essential for detecting and quantifying these pollutants with precision.
Dr Barron’s laboratory relies on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to analyse water samples effi ciently.
‘For most of our river water and wastewater work, we use LC-MS because it provides the sensitivity and speed we need to detect even trace levels of mid-polarity contaminants,’ he says.
Dr Leon Barron is Reader in Analytical and Environmental Sciences at Imperial College London
Shimadzu, a key player in analytical instrumentation, provides state-of-the-art solutions for environmental analysis.
‘For Dr Barron’s laboratory, it is the robustness and sensitivity of our instruments that make the difference,’ notes Dr Gennadiy Ilyashenko, Senior Business Specialist at Shimadzu.
Shimadzu provides Imperial College with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art solutions for environmental science
Dr Gennadiy Ilyashenko, Senior Business Specialist at Shimadzu
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