An Evaluation of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for Detecting Organic Solvents in Expired Breath

Details

• Personal Author:
  Morgan MS ; Rose MA ; Yost MG
• Description:
  The aim of this study was to test the performance of gas-phase FTIR analysis on human breath samples. Ten volatile organic compounds (VOC) were examined for applicability to FTIR spectroscopy (ethanol, ethylbenzene, n-hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl tert-butyl ether, m-xylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and toluene). Three sets of detection limits (LOD) were determined for comparison. LOD(1) were generated from partial least squares (PLS) calibration methods using spectroscopic software, LOD(2) from spiked breath samples, and LOD(3) from blank breath samples. Mixed expired breath samples from four subjects were spiked at varying levels with four different VOC (hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane) to validate spectral data and test overall accuracy. Breath samples spiked with m-xylene also were validated by GC/FID analysis. PLS-derived LOD(1) ranged from 0.06-2.47 ppm. Spiked breath sample LOD(2) ranged from 0.52-1.21 ppm. Blank breath LOD(3) measurements ranged from 0.17-1.70 ppm, except for ethanol, which had an LOD of 11.2 ppm. Predicted concentrations for carbon dioxide (slope = 1.06), m-xylene (slopes = 1.19, 1.21), and methyl ethyl ketone (slope = 0.93) were fairly accurate, while concentrations were underpredicted for n-hexane (slope = 0.69) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (slopes = 0.58-0.66). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Solvents
• Keywords:
  Biological-monitoring Breathing Environmental-health-monitoring Inhalation-studies Organic-chemicals Organic-compounds Organic-solvents Sampling
• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  160-169
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20029277
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2003 Mar; 18(3):160-169
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Exposure Assessment Methods
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19930930
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  19970929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e9af858dee9eaf7d7261593beb4140f4775e91583ccf8e2004f7bb6544cc2860074a8edd38f03a8462e4325dc1a1dc50b33cf8bd6993fc27f2b937f8fec52b81
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190304/cdc_190304_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 345.14 KB ]