The spectrum of identified organic trace compounds in the aquatic environment is most probably only
“the tip of the iceberg”. Modern liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight and Orbitrap highresolution
mass spectrometry (HRMS) promise to extend knowledge on the environmental occurrence
and fate of (un)known micropollutants. Thanks to its unique ability to measure analytes based on accurate
mass, full-spectrum HRMS can simultaneously gain qualitative and quantitative information of a virtually
unlimited number of analytes.
This critical review covers recent trends and advances in this field, as reported over the period 2003–
14.We focus on five key topics: multi-residue aspects of HRMS-based analysis, accurate mass measurement,
suspect and non-target screening, selective quantification, and the combined use of quantitative and qualitative
HRMS. The acquired insights provide stepping stones to improve understanding of the specific
nature of state-of-the-art HRMS, and the challenges and the prospects for future research