Best of the Week: Tariff Effects, Prenatal Cannabis Use, 2025 Tswiett-Nernst Award Winner

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on trending topics in separation science, including a call for more access to PFAS reference standards and discussions on the potential impact of higher tariffs on analytical equipment. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles that were published this week in no particular order.

We’d love to hear from you! Is there a topic you’d like to see covered in LCGC? Share your ideas with us—we value your feedback and are committed to exploring the subjects that matter most to our readers. Email chroncich@mjhlifesciences.com with your thoughts. Happy reading!

PFAS Researchers Call for Access to PFAS Reference Standards from Manufacturers

Alasdair Matheson

Scientific research into the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on human health and the environment is hindered by limited access to high-purity reference standards, according to a team of researchers led by Xenia Trier, an associate professor from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stefan van Leeuwen, a senior scientist focusing on chemical pollutants at Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. A recent commentary piece from these two scientists highlighted that high-purity reference standards are essential to study PFAS and other potentially harmful pollutants, but these standards are not readily available from the companies who produce these substances commercially.

Evaluating the Effects of Higher Tariffs on Analytical Research and Equipment

Caroline Hroncich

President Donald Trump recently announced plans to introduce tariffs on imported semiconductor chip. The announcement comes alongside a series of tariff-related measures and a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for most countries, affecting imports from several of the United States’ primary trading partners. The proposed tariffs are just the latest in a series of actions that could trigger fundamental shifts for scientists working across academia, industry, and government. The total tariff measures could increase from $0.5 billion a year to nearly $63 billion a year for the pharmaceutical, life science, and medical device industries, according to an analysis from PwC. In this article, we discuss the potential impact higher tariffs can have on different aspects of analytical chemistry markets.

Imre Molnár Named 2025 Tswiett-Nernst Award Laureate for Contributions to Separation Science

Kate Jones

The Tswiett-Nernst European Award was established in 2010 by the European Society for Separation Sciences (EuSSS). On the dissolution of the EuSSS, the award was transferred to the Central European Group for Separation Sciences (CEGSS). It recognizes significant scientific contributions to the field of separation science, including advancements in theory, methodology, and practical applications. Imre Molnár, president of the Molnár-Institute for Applied Chromatography, has been named one of two 2025 laureates of the Tswiett-Nernst European Award for outstanding achievement in the separation sciences.

Determining the Link Between Prenatal Cannabis Use and Symptoms of Depression Using LC–MS/MS

John Chasse

Cannabis use during pregnancy has been on the rise, despite growing evidence linking it to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including impaired fetal growth. Pregnant individuals report that they use cannabis for reasons such as nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, anxiety, and depression. However, before the research highlighted in this article, the link between cannabis use during pregnancy and an increased risk of depressive symptoms remained unclear. To reassess the link between early pregnancy cannabis use and later depressive symptoms—and to explore how continued or heavy use compares with no use or use limited to the first trimester—researchers analyzed urine samples for 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).

Common Challenges in Nitrosamine Analysis: An LCGC International Peer Exchange

Aaron Acevedo

Impurity analysis comes with many complex analytical and regulatory challenges. Nitrosamines are a large group of N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) that bear common functional >N–N=O groups. If humans are exposed to nitrosamines above acceptable levels and over long periods of time, these impurities can increase the risk of cancer. Detecting acceptable intake limits, or the acceptable amount of impurity, such as nitrosamines, in a drug, can be difficult due to the limited availability of safety data for an impurity. When safety data is unavailable for nitrosamine impurity, information from nitrosamine comparators, or structurally similar compounds, can be used to identify acceptable intake limits. However, oftentimes appropriate comparators are not available. Further, default acceptable intake limits present challenges to both industry and regulators, significantly impacting drug supply chains. To discuss these complex issues, the editors of LCGC International organized a peer exchange of experts to discuss the intricate nature of nitrosamine analysis.