title: Monitoring of selected skin-borne volatile markers of entrapped humans by selective reagent ionization time of flight mass spectrometry in NO+ mode.
abstract: Selective reagent ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with NO(+) as the reagent ion (SRI-TOF-MS (NO(+))) was applied for near real-time monitoring of selected skin-borne constituents which are potential markers of human presence. The experimental protocol involved a group of 10 healthy volunteers enclosed in a body plethysmography chamber mimicking the entrapment environment. A total of 12 preselected omnipresent in human scent volatiles were quantitatively monitored. Among them there were six aldehydes (n-propanal, n-hexanal, n-heptanal, n-octanal, n-nonanal, and 2 methyl 2-propenal), four ketones (acetone, 2-butanone, 3-buten-2-one, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one), one hydrocarbon (2-methyl 2-pentene), and one terpene (DL-limonene). The observed median emission rates ranged from 0.28 to 44.8 nmol × person(-1) × min(-1) (16-1530 fmol × cm(-2) × min(-1)). Within the compounds under study, ketones in general and acetone in particular exhibited the highest abundances. The findings of this study provide invaluable information about formation and evolution of a human-specific chemical fingerprint, which could be used for the early location of entrapped victims during urban search and rescue operations (USaR).
authors.affiliation: Breath Research Institute, University of Innsbruck , Rathausplatz 4, A-6850 Dornbirn, Austria.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mochalski
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unterkofler
authors.forename: Hartmann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinterhuber
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007659:Ketones / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010991:Plethysmography; D018635:Rescue Work; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D015415:Biomarkers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007659:Ketones; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D009569:Nitric Oxide