Development and evaluation of a wood smoke biomarker

Abstract

The current study aimed to evaluate different bio-indicators for human wood smoke exposure. Different techniques were tried out to assess their feasibility.The current study consisted of method validation and optimization for the analysis of three main woud smoke exposure compounds, namely PAHs, levoglucosan and methoxyphenols. The analyses were applied on air filters, PDMS-Tenax cartridges for air sampling, silicone passive wristbands and scalp hair for personal "dosimetry", and in urine for assessment of the internal levels.To assess the applicability of these monitoring tools/markers, they were applied in a controlled wood smoke experiment in which one field worker was exposed for 5h to an open wood fire in the open air. Followed by two feasibility studies to test the usefulness of the wood smoke marker analysis tools in daily life wood smoke exposure settings. The first feasibility study (pilot 1) consisted of analysis if wood smoke biomarkers in biobanked samples of a recent PAH/levoglucosan air quality study in Flanders. The second feasibility study (pilot 2) consisted of six voluntairs with and without indoor wood burning, where indoor and/or outdoor air concentrations of BC were measured at their homes using a multiwavelength aethalometer. During the time frame of the 7-days sampling, the participants collected urine samples on regular base. Furthermore, they wore a silicone wristband for passive sampling of PAHs during one month starting at the first day of the 7-days sampling period.