Exhaled breath analysis applications for evaluating occupational and environmental exposures

Abstract

Although exhaled breath analysis for diagnosing human health is a concept that dates to antiquity, the application of modern analytical and collection techniques to exhaled breath analysis has rapidly evolved the field. Distinct phases of breath, including breath gas, condensate, and aerosols have been defined in the literature. Although traditionally used for clinical diagnostics, breath analysis has significant applications in evaluating occupational and environmental exposures. Breath analysis can reveal exposure compounds and their metabolites as well as biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. As this field grows, new developments in exposure monitoring have implications for informing policy, best practices, and remediation to help reduce occupational and environmental exposures. This review aims to guide prospective research in breath analysis for exposure monitoring by summarizing current techniques and analytes of interest in a variety of occupational and environmental contexts, while highlighting knowledge gaps to be addressed.