Using the exhaled breath condensate as a tool for non-invasive evaluation of pollutant exposure
by S. Marta Almeida, Pedro M. Felix, Cristiana Franco, Maria Do Carmo Freitas, Luis Cerqueira Alves, Teresa Pinheiro, Maria Alexandra Barreiros, Silvia M. Garcia
International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH), Vol. 4, No. 2/3, 2010

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) can be employed for a better risk assessment among human exposure to heavy metals. The objective was to develop a human bioindicator to be applicable for professional exposure that, compared with other common indicators, presents important advantages: it is non-invasive and it is easily and quickly collected. EBC was sampled in industrial workers and in a control group consisting of healthy volunteers working in offices. Heavy metal concentrations in EBC were determined by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) in parallel low-volume samplers, and the techniques Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) were used to characterise air particulate matter in the factory and in the offices. Results revealed that Pb and Cu were significantly higher in industrial workers EBC, raising the possibility of using this new matrix in occupational settings in order to assess the workers' exposure to toxic agents.

Online publication date: Tue, 29-Jun-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com