Non-targeted analysis (NTA) uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to better understand the identity of a wide variety of chemicals present in environmental samples (and other matrices). However, data processing remains challenging due to the vast number of chemicals detected in samples, software and computational requirements of data processing, and inherent uncertainty in confidently identifying chemicals from candidate lists. Analysis of the resultant mass spectrometry information relies on cheminformatics to identify and rank chemicals and the US EPA has developed functionality within the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard (https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard) to address challenges related to this analysis. These tools include the generation of “MS-Ready” structures to optimize database searching, retention time prediction for candidate reduction, consensus ranking using chemical metadata, and <i>in silico</i> MS/MS fragmentation prediction for spectral matching. Combining these tools into a comprehensive workflow improves certainty in candidate identification. This presentation will review how the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard via its flexible search capabilities, rich data for ~900,000 chemical substances, and visualization approaches within this open chemistry resource provides a freely available software tool to support structure identification and NTA.

Non-targeted analysis supported by data and cheminformatics delivered via the US EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard

2019 Fall National Meeting

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