title: Monitoring of human chemical signatures using membrane inlet mass spectrometry.
abstract: This work is an attempt to assist border security crackdown on illegal human immigration, by providing essential results on human chemical signatures. Data was obtained using a portable quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled with a membrane probe for volunteers of both genders and under different conditions in a container simulator. During experiments, participants were asked to follow various protocols while volatile organic compounds emitted from their breath, sweat, skin, and other biological excretes were continuously being monitored. Experimental setups using different membrane materials (both hydrophilic and hydrophobic) including heating of the sampling probe and sampling flow rates were examined. From our measurements, significant information was obtained for NH3, CO2, water, and volatile organic compounds levels, illustrating a human chemical profile and indicating human presence in a confined space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool , Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannoukos
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brkić
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: France
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002070:Butadienes / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D020378:Confined Spaces; D005260:Female; D045782:Hemiterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010420:Pentanes / Q000032:analysis; D011422:Propionates / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010420:Pentanes; D011422:Propionates; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014867:Water; C005059:isoprene; D000096:Acetone; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia