title: Assessment of matrix effects on methyl benzoate, a potential biomarker for detection of outgassed semi-volatiles from mold in indoor building materials.
abstract: Methyl benzoate - as a biomarker for mold growth - was used as a specific target compound to indicate outgassed MVOC products from mold. Both real and surrogate samples were analyzed from a variety of matrices including: carpet, ceiling tiles, dried paint surfaces, wallboard and wallboard paper. Sampling parameters, including: desorption, extraction time, incubation temperature, pH, salt effects and spinning rate, were optimized. Results suggest that extraction and detection of methyl benzoate amongst other MVOCs can be accomplished cleanly by SPME-GC/MS methods. With detection limits (LOD = 1.5 ppb) and linearity (0.999) over a range of 100 ppm to 2 ppb, this work demonstrates that such a green technique can be contemplated for use in quick assessment or as part of an ongoing assessment strategy to detect mold growth in common indoor buildings and materials for both qualitative and quantitative determinations. Of importance, no matrix effects are observed under optimized extraction conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science (Chemistry), Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada A2H 6P9. dparkins@swgc.mun.ca
authors.forename: Don-Roger
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: Tonia J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: Wyn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rolls
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002138:Calibration; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D015415:Biomarkers; D012997:Solvents; C044605:methyl benzoate