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. 2012 Sep:38:129-142.
doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2012.05.004.

Methods for the determination of biomarkers of exposure to emerging pollutants in human specimens

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Methods for the determination of biomarkers of exposure to emerging pollutants in human specimens

Vicent Yusa et al. Trends Analyt Chem. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Biomonitoring is a very useful tool for assessing human exposure to environmental pollutants. This review discusses recent methods for the quantitative measurement of biomarkers of exposure to different classes of chemicals used in personal-care products (e.g., musk fragrances, preservatives, UV filters, and insect repellents) and consumer products (e.g., organophosphate flame retardants, phthalate esters, perfluorinated compounds, and industrial phenols). The measurements are mainly taken in urine, blood, and breast milk. We also discuss the different procedures commonly used for sample-pretreatment, extraction, and clean up, and chromatographic techniques currently used to determine these compounds. Finally, we present data on the main biomarkers occurring in different human specimens.

Keywords: Biomarker; Blood; Breast milk; Emerging pollutant; Flame retardant; Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); Musk fragrance; Perfluorinated compound; Personal-care product; Urine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scheme of human biomonitoring and the analytical methods (Phat, Phthalates; PFCs: Perfluorinated compounds; OPFRs, Organophospate flame retardants; PCPs, Personal-care products).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of analytical studies using LC and GC techniques for the biomarkers of the different pollutants (studies published 2005–2011; number of studies considered = 53).

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