Analytical Methods for Toxics Determination

In recent decades, but especially in recent years, the rapid spread of toxic species has occurred in all matrices. Evidently, these contaminants, both of inorganic and organic origin, represent very dangerous pollutants for human health, owing to their bioaccumulation and toxicity. They result from almost all human activities, such as, for example, industries, agriculture, vehicular traffic, and urban heating. Considering that often these species occur in the various real matrices at extremely low concentrations, the various analytical methodologies must evidently demonstrate their possible application by verifying their accuracy and integrity at all steps: sampling, sample preparation, instrumental measurement, and statistical data processing. Another extremely important aspect concerns the fact that the development of new analytical methodologies and the contemporary lack or inadequacy of regulations regarding the determination of toxic species in the most varied matrices can obviously give, to the legislator, the possibility to update and improve the abovementioned regulations. This volume aims to attract contributions on all aspects linked to the different analytical methods used for the determination of toxic species in the most varied matrices—food, environmental, forensic, biological, and so on—focusing particularly on the fundamental parameters of interest to set up an analytical procedure, such as precision and trueness (that together give accuracy), the limits of detection and quantification, selectivity, and especially sensitivity.