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Characterizing the external exposome using passive samplers—comparative assessment of chemical exposures using different wearable form factors

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 33, pages 558–565 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Organic contaminants are released into the air from building materials/furnishings, personal care, and household products. Wearable passive samplers have emerged as tools to characterize personal chemical exposures. The optimal placement of these samplers on an individual to best capture airborne exposures has yet to be evaluated.

Objective

To compare personal exposure to airborne contaminants detected using wearable passive air samplers placed at different positions on the body.

Methods

Participants (n = 32) simultaneously wore four passive Fresh Air samplers, on their head, chest, wrist, and foot for 24 hours. Exposure to 56 airborne organic contaminants was evaluated using thermal desorption gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry with a targeted data analysis approach.

Results

Distinct exposure patterns were detected by samplers positioned on different parts of the body. Chest and wrist samplers were the most similar with correlations identified for 20% of chemical exposures (Spearman’s Rho > 0.8, p < 0.05). In contrast, the greatest differences were found for head and foot samplers with the weakest correlations across evaluated exposures (8% compounds, Spearman’s Rho > 0.8, p < 0.05).

Significance

The placement of wearable passive air samplers influences the exposures captured and should be considered in future exposure and epidemiological studies.

Impact statement

Traditional approaches for assessing personal exposure to airborne contaminants with active samplers presents challenges due to their cost, size, and weight.

Wearable passive samplers have recently emerged as a non-invasive, lower cost tool for measuring environmental exposures. While these samplers can be worn on different parts of the body, their position can influence the type of exposure that is captured. This study comprehensively evaluates the exposure to airborne chemical contaminants measured at different passive sampler positions worn on the head, chest, wrist, and foot. Findings provide guidance on sampler placement based on chemicals and emission sources of interest.

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Fig. 1: Design of the fresh air passive samplers for personal exposure assessment.
Fig. 2: Summary of chemical exposures detected by each wearable form across all study participants.
Fig. 3: Correlations across airborne contaminants detected by the four fresh air sampler worn by participants on the head, chest, wrist, and foot.
Fig. 4: Comparison of personal exposure to airborne contaminants detected between season and housing location.

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Data availability

The dataset generated during and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank participants for taking part in the study. Funding for this work was received from the Yale School of Public Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA

    Elizabeth Z. Lin, Yakun Zhou, Jeremy P. Koelmel & Krystal J. Godri Pollitt

  2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Amy Nichols & Krystal J. Godri Pollitt

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Contributions

EZL designed the study, deployed and collected samples, prepared and analyzed samples, conducted statistical analysis, drafted and revised the manuscript. AN and YZ deployed and collected samples. JPK provided feedback during data analysis and revised the manuscript. KJGP conceived and designed the study, provided feedback throughout sample collection, sample and data analysis, and drafted and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Krystal J. Godri Pollitt.

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Lin, E.Z., Nichols, A., Zhou, Y. et al. Characterizing the external exposome using passive samplers—comparative assessment of chemical exposures using different wearable form factors. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 33, 558–565 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-022-00456-3

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