Solid-phase microextraction for the human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals: Current applications and future perspectives

Sample preparation is one of the crucial steps in the analytical chemistry including human biomonitoring studies. Although there are several traditional approaches available, solid-phase microextraction is emerged as one of the pioneering techniques due to its simplicity, rapidness, wide applicability, and miniaturization of traditional sample preparation (e.g., use of less or no organic solvents). There are few earlier review articles available on the advancements in solid-phase microextraction and its use for the measurement of environmental chemicals in various types of environmental samples. However, a collective information on applicability and current usage of solid-phase microextraction for the human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals are scarce, nonetheless, rising demands on innovative analytical approaches for human biomonitoring studies. Hence, in this review article, we covered the application of solid-phase microextraction as extraction/purification methods for more than 15 classes of environmental chemicals to assess their respective exposure levels and associated health outcomes in various human population reported across the globe. Further, a detailed discussion on various types of matrix used, nature of coupled analytical instrumentations, and limitations and future perspectives of solid-phase microextraction for human biomonitoring studies is presented in this review.

Automated summary

Solid-phase microextraction has emerged as a pioneering technique in sample preparation, offering simplicity, rapidness, wide applicability, and miniaturization of traditional methods. This review article provides an overview of the application of solid-phase microextraction for assessing exposure levels and health outcomes of environmental chemicals in various human populations worldwide, as well as discussing the limitations and future perspectives of this technique in human biomonitoring studies.