Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) represent a growing and complex global challenge, posing significant risks to both human health and ecosystem integrity. These chemically diverse and biologically active substances, which often originate from industrial activities, pharmaceutical use, personal care products, and other everyday consumer goods, are persistent in the environment and can evade conventional wastewater treatment processes. Once released, they disperse widely through air, water, and food chains, leading to cumulative exposure in humans and wildlife. Their pervasive presence threatens environmental quality, disrupts ecological processes, and raises concerns for long-term public health.

In this talk, Dr. Lucarini will explore how advanced analytical techniques are shedding light on the pathways of PFAS, bisphenols and tire-related pollutants (e.g., PPD-quinones) from their release into the environment to their accumulation in biological systems. The presentation will highlight recent analytical and toxicological assessments that reveal the extent and diversity of exposure to these endocrine-disrupting and persistent chemicals. Utilizing robust methodologies, including optimized extraction techniques coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS), several contaminants have been quantified simultaneously across various complex matrices.

By combining analytical chemistry and biomonitoring approaches, Dr. Lucarini’s research investigates how these substances accumulate in the environment and into the human body. This integrated perspective provides new insights into both environmental contamination and potential health effects, illustrating how persistent industrial chemicals continue to shape modern exposure patterns.