Human biomonitoring with or without limits? Progress in the analysis of biomarkers of xenobiotics and some opportunities for improved interpretation

Publication date: Available online 10 February 2019Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical ChemistryAuthor(s): Paul T.J. Scheepers, John CockerAbstractThe analysis of body tissues for xenobiotics from occupational and environmental exposures is a rapidly growing field with much societal impact. This use of biomarkers, outside the clinical setting, is referred to as biomonitoring. It informs human health risk assessment by providing information on uptake, bioavailability and bio-activation. Some toxic species are analysed in tissues of first contact such as the lung lining fluid. Other chemical exposures are evaluated by their metabolite levels in blood or urine. There is a clear trend to identify intermediates interacting with tissues rather than analyzing products of detoxification, only. New biomarkers are discovered in animal and human studies. Targeted analysis of these biomarkers need validation in field studies. On the other hand, to support further exploration of what is called the exposome, untargeted mass spectrometry-based analysis of body fluids is the method of choice to support applications in this new field of biomonitoring.
Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research