| Title: | Analysis of expired air of fasting male monks at Mount Athos |
| Author(s): | Statheropoulos M; Agapiou A; Georgiadou A; |
| Address: | "National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), School of Chemical Engineering, Sector I, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street, Athens 15773, Greece" |
| Journal Title: | J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jchromb.2006.01.017 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1570-0232 (Print) 1570-0232 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Expired air chemical analysis is investigated as a search and locate method for the early detection of entrapped people under the ruins of collapsed buildings after an earthquake. Fasting individuals were examined as a group that simulates the medical status of some of such victims. Exhaled air from seven fasting male monks (after 63 h) was analysed using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) analysis. Over 150 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified and the 43 most frequent are presented. Acetone showed by far the highest 'positive alveolar gradient'. Other compounds included phenol, di-limonene, 2-pentanone, isoprene and acetaldehyde. Quantitative results showed a 30-fold increase of acetone concentration (5.8 ppmv) compared to control measurements of a volunteer. Breath acetone was also identified through a portable gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometer showing possible, under certain conditions, effectiveness of the method in the field" |
| Keywords: | Adult *Breath Tests Humans Male Organic Chemicals/*analysis *Religion Volatilization; |
| Notes: | "MedlineStatheropoulos, M Agapiou, A Georgiadou, A eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2006/02/18 J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2006 Mar 7; 832(2):274-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2006.01.017. Epub 2006 Feb 17" |
