Exploratory study on noninvasive biomarker of silicosis in exhaled breath by solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis

• Published in: International archives of occupational and environmental health Vol. 96; no. 6; pp. 857 - 868
• Main Authors: Yi, Zonghui, Dong, Simin, Wang, Xixi, Xu, Mucen, Li, Yongxin, Xie, Linshen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Breath tests; Breath Tests - methods; Chlorobenzene; Chromatography; Computed tomography; Cymene; Diagnosis; Discriminant analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; Ethyl acetate; Gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; Humans; Hydroquinone; Lungs; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Occupational diseases; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Organic compounds; Original Article; Phthalic anhydride; Rehabilitation; Samplers; Scientific imaging; Silicosis; Silicosis - diagnosis; Solid phase methods; Solid Phase Microextraction; Solid phases; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis; X ray imagery; Volatile organic compounds; Biomarker; Silicosis; Exhaled breath
• ISSN: 0340-0131; 1432-1246; 1432-1246
• DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-01971-y

Background As a chronic occupational disease, silicosis could cause irreversible and incurable impair to the lung. The current diagnosis of silicosis relies on imaging of X-ray or CT, but these methods cannot detect lung lesions in the early stage of silicosis. Objective To establish a regular screening and early diagnosis methods for silicosis, which could be helpful for the prevention and treatment of silicosis. Methods A total of 161 subjects were enrolled in the study, including 69 patients with silicosis (SILs) and 92 healthy controls. The exhaled breath samples of the subjects were collected with breath sampler and Tedlar bag. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath was performed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results After excluding the pollutants from sampling bags and instruments, 86 VOCs have been identified in the exhaled breath. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was employed for the screening of potential biomarkers of silicosis. Those components that related to smoking were also excluded from the biomarkers. Finally, nine possible biomarkers for silicosis were screened out, including 2,3-butanedione, ethyl acetate, chlorobenzene, o -cymene, 4-ethylhex-2-ynal, 3,5-dimethyl-3-heptanol, hydroquinone, phthalic anhydride and 5-(2-methylpropyl)nonane. Based on these biomarkers screened, a predicted model for silicosis was generated with the accuracy of 89.61%. Conclusion The nine biomarkers in exhaled breath were preliminarily screened out for the early diagnosis of silicosis, which can be helpful to the establishment of a noninvasive screening method for silicosis. Follow-up studies should be conducted to further verify these markers.