(in German)

The working group "Analyses in Biological Materials" of the German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) developed and verified the presented method for the biomonitoring of furan exposure.

This method focuses on the determination of furan in human end-exhaled air. Samples are collected in 20‑ml screw-top glass vials (headspace vials) into which the subjects exhale through a PTFE tube. The vials are then sealed using screw caps with PTFElined silicone septa. After enrichment of the furan from the gas phase by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), the extract is analysed by gas chromatography. Detection is performed using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with electron-impact ionisation in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. End-exhaled-air samples spiked with furan are used for external calibration.

The procedure has been comprehensively validated, and the reliability data have been confirmed by replication and verification of the procedure in a second, independent laboratory. Good precision and accuracy data show that the method provides reliable and accurate analytical results. The limit of quantitation of 0.06 ng furan/l end-exhaled air is sufficient to determine occupational exposure as well as exposure to furan after smoking or shortly after coffee consumption.

Please download the article "MAK Commission: Furan - Determination of furan in exhaled air by GC-MS/MS)" (in German only).