Biomonitoring

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) will be employed for the targeted biomonitoring of chemical pollutants in urine and plasma samples.

The pollutants measured include:

• Phthalates;
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including emerging ones;
• Urinary nicotine and cotinine, as biomarkers of active and passive smoking;
• Urinary mercapturic acids derived from occupational and environmental toxicants.
• Urinary metal (e.g. aluminium, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel) concentrations will be quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).