Analytical challenges in breath analysis and its application to exposure monitoring

There is an increasing interest in the use of breath analysis for monitoring human physiology and exposure to toxic substances or environmental pollutants.This review focuses on the current status of the sampling procedures, collection devices and sample-enrichment methodologies used for exhaled breath-vapor analysis. We discuss the different parameters affecting each of the above steps, taking into account the requirements for breath analysis in exposure assessments and the need to analyze target compounds at sub-ppbv levels.Finally, we summarize the practical applications of exposure analysis in the past two decades.

► Common containers for sampling collection are compared and discussed.
► Advantages and disadvantages of SPME and sorbent trap methods are discussed.
► Losses associated to the use of gas sampling bags are discussed.
► The use of a new methodology based on needle traps is presented.
► A summary is made of the applications in exposure analysis in the past two decades.