Structural identification of metabolites and degradation products is a critical
part of any study of the fate of a candidate molecule in biotic or abiotic test
systems, and ultimately is highly significant for human and environmental risk
assessments.
For crop protection chemicals, it is particularly important to know the identity
of metabolites in the edible parts of crops or food-producing animals. By comparison
with metabolites formed in laboratory animal (rat) metabolism studies, it can
be judged whether the toxicity of any metabolites has been adequately assessed
by toxicology studies conducted with the parent active substance. It may also
be necessary to consider quantifying metabolites in crop residue trials or livestock
feeding studies.
Metabolites formed in environmental systems pose a risk to terrestrial or aquatic
organisms and potentially to humans via drinking water. Separate risk assessments
are required for significant or “relevant” environmental metabolites.
Hence, the identification of such metabolites is critical.
Metabolites are usually present in biological or environmental samples at very
low concentrations where they can be mixed with a huge variety of endogenous
substances. This presents a major challenge to scientists and equipment to separate
metabolites in sufficient quantity and purity for examination.
- At HLS, we have been identifying xenobiotic metabolites for more than 30
years
- We have studied a huge variety of test substances
- We have a team of experienced mass spectroscopists dedicated to metabolite
identification
- We have the most advanced Liquid Chromatography - Mass spectrometry combinations
available for metabolite identification -including Q-TOF Micro MS system with
UPLC
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