Jäännösanalyysi

Jäännösanalyysi, known in English as residue analysis, is a scientific discipline focused on identifying and quantifying chemical substances that remain in a sample. This sample can be anything from food products, environmental matrices like soil or water, to biological tissues or even manufactured goods. The primary goal of residue analysis is to determine the presence and concentration of specific compounds, which may be intentionally added or unintentionally introduced.

The applications of residue analysis are broad and critical for public health and safety. In the food industry, it is used to detect pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, mycotoxins, and food additives to ensure compliance with safety regulations and protect consumers from harmful substances. Environmental monitoring relies heavily on residue analysis to assess the levels of pollutants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and pharmaceuticals in air, water, and soil, thereby understanding environmental contamination and its potential impact on ecosystems and human health.

In forensic science, residue analysis can be employed to identify trace amounts of explosives, narcotics, or accelerants at crime scenes. Pharmaceutical analysis also utilizes residue analysis to check for impurities in drug formulations or to monitor drug levels in biological fluids for therapeutic drug monitoring or toxicological investigations. The methods employed in residue analysis are diverse and depend on the nature of the analyte and the matrix. Common techniques include chromatography (gas chromatography, liquid chromatography) coupled with various detectors (mass spectrometry, UV-Vis spectroscopy), and immunoassay methods. Accurate and sensitive residue analysis is essential for informed decision-making in regulatory affairs, environmental protection, and healthcare.