Biomarkers, matrices and analytical methods targeting human exposure to chemicals selected for a European human biomonitoring initiative

Katrin Vorkamp*, Argelia Castaño, Jean Philippe Antignac, Luis D. Boada, Enrique Cequier, Adrian Covaci, Marta Esteban López, Line S. Haug, Monika Kasper-Sonnenberg, Holger M. Koch, Octavio Pérez Luzardo, Agnese Osīte, Loïc Rambaud, Maria Teresa Pinorini, Gabriele Sabbioni, Cathrine Thomsen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

90 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The major purpose of human biomonitoring is the mapping and assessment of human exposure to chemicals. The European initiative HBM4EU has prioritized seven substance groups and two metals relevant for human exposure: Phthalates and substitutes (1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, DINCH), bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), halogenated and organophosphorous flame retardants (HFRs and OPFRs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arylamines, cadmium and chromium. As a first step towards comparable European-wide data, the most suitable biomarkers, human matrices and analytical methods for each substance group or metal were selected from the scientific literature, based on a set of selection criteria. The biomarkers included parent compounds of PFASs and HFRs in serum, of bisphenols and arylamines in urine, metabolites of phthalates, DINCH, OPFRs and PAHs in urine as well as metals in blood and urine, with a preference to measure Cr in erythrocytes representing Cr (VI) exposure. High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was the method of choice for bisphenols, PFASs, the HFR hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), phenolic HFRs as well as the metabolites of phthalates, DINCH, OPFRs and PAHs in urine. Gas chromatographic (GC) methods were selected for the remaining compounds, e.g. GC-low resolution MS with electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) for HFRs. Both GC–MS and LC-MS/MS were suitable for arylamines. New developments towards increased applications of GC–MS/MS may offer alternatives to GC–MS or LC-MS/MS approaches, e.g. for bisphenols. The metals were best determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS, with the particular challenge of avoiding interferences in the Cd determination in urine. The evaluation process revealed research needs towards higher sensitivity and non-invasive sampling as well as a need for more stringent quality assurance/quality control applications and assessments.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106082
JournalEnvironment International
Volume146
ISSN0160-4120
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Bisphenols
  • Flame retardants
  • HBM4EU
  • Metals
  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
  • Phthalates

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Biomarkers, matrices and analytical methods targeting human exposure to chemicals selected for a European human biomonitoring initiative'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this