Sensitive multiresidue method by HS-SPME/GC-MS for 10 volatile organic compounds in urine matrix: a new tool for biomonitoring studies on children.
A HS-SPME method coupled with GC-MS analysis has been developed for simultaneously measuring the concentration of 10 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-, m-, and p-xylene, methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-butyl ether, 2-methyl-2-butyl methyl ether, and diisopropyl ether) in urine matrix as a biomonitoring tool for populations at low levels of exposure to such VOCs. These compounds, potentially toxic for human health, are common contaminants of both outdoor and indoor air, as they are released by autovehicular traffic; some of them are also present in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Thus, the exposure to these pollutants cannot be neglected and should be assessed. The low limits of detection and quantification (LODs and LOQs <6.5 and 7.5 ng L(-1), respectively) and the high reproducibility (CVs <4 %) make the developed method suited for biomonitoring populations exposed at low levels such as children. Further, the method is cost-effective and low in time-consumption; therefore, it is useful for investigating large populations. It has been applied to children exposed to traffic pollution and/or ETS; the relevant results are reported, and the relevant implications are discussed.
Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, Via S. Maria in Gradi, 4, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.|Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Arianna
A
Antonucci
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy. matteo.vitali@uniroma1.it.
Matteo
M
Vitali
Department of Technological Innovations, INAIL, Via IV Novembre 144, 00187, Rome, Italy.
Pasquale
P
Avino
Department of Technological Innovations, INAIL, Via IV Novembre 144, 00187, Rome, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Manigrasso
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Carmela
C
Protano
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000652:urine*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
Biomonitoring; Children; GC-MS; HS-SPME; Urine; Volatile organic compounds