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Silicone wristbands as personal passive samplers
Steven G O'Connell1, Laurel D Kincl, Kim A Anderson
1Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology and ‡College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States.
Environmental Science & Technology
|February 20, 2014
Summary
Silicone wristbands offer a novel passive sampling method for measuring personal exposure to diverse environmental contaminants. This approach demonstrates sensitivity to both temporal and spatial variations in exposure levels.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Active personal monitoring methods face limitations in energy consumption and representativeness of exposure.
- Existing passive sampling techniques often require extensive preparation or target limited compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate silicone wristbands as passive samplers for measuring bioavailable exposure to a wide range of environmental contaminants.
- To assess the temporal and spatial sensitivity of silicone wristbands in occupational settings.
Main Methods:
- Developed and optimized laboratory methods for silicone wristband precleaning, compound infusion, and extraction.
- Validated extraction efficiency (>96%) and reduced chromatographic interference.
- Deployed silicone wristbands in ambient and occupational settings to measure sequestered compounds.
Main Results:
- Successfully sequestered 49 diverse compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and phthalates, across a wide log K(ow) range.
- Detected 25 PAHs and 2 oxygenated-PAHs in occupational settings, showing temporal sensitivity over 8- and 40-hour exposures (p < 0.05).
- Demonstrated significant differences in PAH sequestration between worksites, indicating spatial sensitivity (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Silicone wristbands provide a versatile and effective passive sampling tool for personal exposure monitoring.
- The method is sensitive to temporal and spatial variations in exposure to a broad spectrum of environmental contaminants.
- This novel application holds promise for improving the assessment of human exposure in various environments.
