Monitoring volatile organic compound (VOC) levels in workers exposed to these compounds is important for their health. This is normally done by taking blood samples. However, scientists are looking towards using saliva samples instead, as a non-invasive technique.
Collecting saliva samples is done by either passive drool (in which the subject has to sit tight while their saliva drips off their lips into a collection vessel) or by chewing on a piece of cotton wool (which is then centrifuged to collect the saliva). But, neither technique can be used to detect VOCs in saliva.
Now, UK scientists at Loughborough University and Unilever R&D in the Wirral have come up with a new approach to overcome this problem. They carried out sampling of VOCs directly in the mouth using a polydimethylsiloxane sampler.
Although it takes 10 minutes to collect a sample, the team says that they are working towards reducing the time to one minute. The method could be combined with other VOC sampling methods – breath and skin analysis – they say.
Sampling and Characterisation of Volatile Organic Compound Profiles in Human Saliva Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Coupon Placed Within the Oral Cavity
Analyst, 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35432B
