Evaluation of different microsampling techniques for the determination of chemical elements and organic pollutants in capillary blood, plasma and urine for human biomonitoring studies

• Grant number: 23/10359-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Barbosa Júnior
• Grantee: Vítor Luiz Caleffo Piva Bigão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/24069-3 - ReSEARCH: Recognizing Signatures of the Exposome to Anticipate the Risks for a Continuous Health, AP.TEM

Abstract

Human biomonitoring (HB) is an analytical tool used to assess exposure to chemical species by quantifying them in biological matrices. HB relies on conventional methods such as venous blood and urine collection, which have logistical and technical limitations. In contrast, microsampling techniques, including volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS), in situ plasma separation devices, and dried urine sampling, have gained prominence as promising alternatives to overcome these challenges.In this context, this project aims to develop analytical methodologies for microsampling biological matrices (capillary blood, plasma, and urine) and subsequently analyze them using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) for multielement determination. Additionally, to expand HB study approaches, the project seeks to adapt Reload Health's Ouro devices for determining various classes of organic compounds and/or their metabolites in dried urine using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Preliminary results from the VAMS-ICP-MS/MS protocol demonstrated the feasibility of investigating and quantifying lead isotopes (206Pb), selenium (82Se), and cadmium (111Cd) in standard mode (without reaction/collision cell) with relative error (accuracy) of the experimental value compared to the nominal value of the reference material "Seronorm L-3" blood, ranging from 1.4%, -6.7%, and -7.3%, respectively. The new Reload Health Ouro polymer proved promising for analyzing at least nine organic pollutants using dried urine sampling combined with GC-MS quantification. It also showed a trend of linearity for a panel of 11 chemical elements using Ouro Health-ICP-MS/MS.After validating the proposed analytical methods, they will be applied to determine chemical elements and organic environmental pollutants in biological matrices from adults and adolescents living in remote and hard-to-access riverside communities in the Amazon region of Brazil.