Title: | Monitoring of selected skin-borne volatile markers of entrapped humans by selective reagent ionization time of flight mass spectrometry in NO+ mode |
Author(s): | Mochalski P; Unterkofler K; Hinterhuber H; Amann A; |
Address: | "Breath Research Institute, University of Innsbruck , Rathausplatz 4, A-6850 Dornbirn, Austria" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1520-6882 (Electronic) 0003-2700 (Print) 0003-2700 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Selective reagent ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with NO(+) as the reagent ion (SRI-TOF-MS (NO(+))) was applied for near real-time monitoring of selected skin-borne constituents which are potential markers of human presence. The experimental protocol involved a group of 10 healthy volunteers enclosed in a body plethysmography chamber mimicking the entrapment environment. A total of 12 preselected omnipresent in human scent volatiles were quantitatively monitored. Among them there were six aldehydes (n-propanal, n-hexanal, n-heptanal, n-octanal, n-nonanal, and 2 methyl 2-propenal), four ketones (acetone, 2-butanone, 3-buten-2-one, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one), one hydrocarbon (2-methyl 2-pentene), and one terpene (DL-limonene). The observed median emission rates ranged from 0.28 to 44.8 nmol x person(-1) x min(-1) (16-1530 fmol x cm(-2) x min(-1)). Within the compounds under study, ketones in general and acetone in particular exhibited the highest abundances. The findings of this study provide invaluable information about formation and evolution of a human-specific chemical fingerprint, which could be used for the early location of entrapped victims during urban search and rescue operations (USaR)" |
Keywords: | Adult Aldehydes/analysis Biomarkers/*analysis Female Humans Indicators and Reagents Ketones/analysis Male Mass Spectrometry Middle Aged Nitric Oxide/chemistry Plethysmography Rescue Work Skin/*chemistry Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Young Adult; |
Notes: | "MedlineMochalski, Pawel Unterkofler, Karl Hinterhuber, Hartmann Amann, Anton eng P 24736/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/03/13 Anal Chem. 2014 Apr 15; 86(8):3915-23. doi: 10.1021/ac404242q. Epub 2014 Mar 24" |