Breath air analysis and its use as a biomarker in biological monitoring of occupational and environmental exposure to chemical agents

The analysis of exhaled air has several advantages since it is a noninvasive method applicable to a large number of toxic agents, in addition to being a simpler matrix than those of other biological samples such as urine and blood. However, it presents some challenges, such as the necessity of a mor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences, 2007-06, Vol.853 (1-2), p.1-9
Main Authors: Amorim, Leiliane Coelho A., de L. Cardeal, Zenilda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarker
Biomarkers - analysis
Breath analysis
Breath Tests - methods
Chromatography, Gas
Environmental exposure
Environmental Exposure - analysis
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Environmental Pollution - analysis
Environmental Pollution - prevention & control
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gas chromatography
General pharmacology
Humans
Medical sciences
Occupational exposure
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Solid Phase Microextraction - methods
Solid-phase microextraction
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Summary:The analysis of exhaled air has several advantages since it is a noninvasive method applicable to a large number of toxic agents, in addition to being a simpler matrix than those of other biological samples such as urine and blood. However, it presents some challenges, such as the necessity of a more sensitive sampling procedure, since the chemical substances eliminated through exhaled air are unchanged in form, not being metabolized, and exhaled compounds are present at extremely low concentrations, i.e. in the nanomolar range. To improve the sensitivity and precision of measurement of the concentration of these substances in exhaled air, the sample usually has to be concentrated before assay by gas chromatography. To this end, the use of the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique has been proposed as an efficient sampling method. This paper presents a revision of breath analysis as a biomarker for occupational and environmental exposure to chemicals. The sampling methods and the potential use of SPME for determining chemical substances in exhaled air are discussed.
ISSN:1570-0232
1873-376X
DOI:10.1016/j.jchromb.2007.03.023