Patterns of Personal Exposure to Urban Pollutants Using Personal Passive Samplers and GC × GC/ToF-MS.

ABSTRACT

The performance of silicon wristband passive samplers (WB), combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatography/time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (GC × GC/ToF-MS), for the analysis of urban derived pollutants in the personal environment was evaluated. Cumulative 5-day exposure samples from 27 individuals in areas with different geographical/socioeconomic characteristics within the Santiago Metropolitan Region (Chile) were collected during winter and summer (2016-2017). Samples were extracted without cleanup/fractionation and analyzed using targeted and nontargeted methods. The quantified semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs, n = 33) (targeted analysis), and tentatively identified features ( n = 595-1011) (nontargeted analysis) were classified according to their use/source. Seasonal differences were observed in the targeted analysis, while seasonal and spatial differences were observed in the nontargeted analysis. Higher concentrations of combustion products were observed in winter, while higher concentrations of consumer products were found in summer. Spatial differences were observed in hierarchical clustering analysis of the nontargeted data, with distinct clusters corresponding to specific subregions of the urban area. Results from this study provide spatial and seasonal distributions of urban pollutants within an urban area and establish the utility of linking WB with nontargeted analysis as a tool to identify and prioritize new exposures to urban contaminants at the local/community level.