This issue of The Column in its original digital magazine format.

Ion chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (IC-MS) does not follow the same rules as coupling other modes of liquid chromatography to mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Leon Barron from the Analytical & Environmental Science Division, at King’s College London, UK, reveals some of the misconceptions surrounding IC and discusses contemporary trends and novel applications for this inventive technique.

Long-term measurements to determine the quantity and chemical composition of suspended particles at high temporal resolution are useful to gain insight into the effects of particulate matter on health and the environment. In the south-east of Scotland, such measurements are being taken as part of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), which focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of the long-range, transboundary transmission of air-polluting substances in Europe. The programme serves to regularly equip European governments with the scientific knowledge required to reduce air pollution and mitigate its effects.

Kevin A. Schug reveals the major method validation protocol deficiencies he discovered when he reviewed a blood alcohol investigation and discusses how matrix effects possibly resulted in blood alcohol concentrations being over-estimated, resulting in a potentially significant injustice.

Researchers have investigated the use of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) for size distribution analysis of influenza virus particles.

Agilent Technologies Inc. has named Roeland G.W. Verhaak, of the Jackson Laboratory (JAX), the winner of the company’s Early Career Professor Award. Verhaak was selected for his contributions to the implementation of transcriptomics, genomics, and big-data analysis to the classification and diagnosis of various cancer types.

Researchers from Postnova Analytics, Landsberg, Germany, have developed a quantitative method to detect traces of toxic metals in tattoo ink using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS).