The role of microextraction techniques in occupational exposure assessment. A review

Abstract

The determination of trace levels of various compounds is very important for the accurate assessment of occupational exposure hazards. Recently, due to shortcomings of conventional methods, the use of microextraction techniques to sample and analyze compounds in various matrices has increased significantly. The shortcomings of conventional techniques include poor sensitivity, the consumption and disposal of significant amounts of toxic solvents, complexity, and the use of long and multiple-step sample preparation protocols. In contrast, microextraction techniques are advantageous because they utilize single-step sampling and solvent-free preparation and have the potential for automation and reduced analysis times. As shown in the literature, microextraction techniques include solid-phase microextraction (SPME), needle trap device (NTD), and liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), which have all shown increased sensitivity, extraction efficiency, and selectivity than conventional methods. This review focuses on microextraction techniques used for sampling and determination of various compounds in an occupational environment. In this review, the application of microextraction techniques in occupational exposure assessment is examined, along with a discussion of their future prospects.