title: In situ analysis of solvents on breath and blood: a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric study.
abstract: We report measurements of residual vapour levels of xylenes and trimethylbenzenes, present following a floor re-surfacing procedure, using the technique of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). A subject exposed to controlled amounts of xylene and mesitylene was monitored by direct breath exhalation over a 4-hour period after exposure to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) had stopped. The headspace gases above 5 mL blood samples taken over this period were also monitored. The decays of the solvent levels with time were fitted to a two-compartment model with residence times for xylene and mesitylene of 0.37 h and 0.38 h, respectively (compartment one) and 2.5 h and 2.8 h, respectively (compartment two).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Colin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Murray J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McEwan
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.forename: Randall A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Allardyce
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000032:analysis; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; C010219:mesitylene