Colorectal cancer (CRC), according to the most recent data provided by GLOBOCAN, ranks fourth worldwide in incidence and third in mortality among all cancers. Current estimates project a global increase in colorectal cancer incidence of 60.5 % and mortality of 76.9 % between 2022 and 2045. The low sensitivity and adherence, coupled with the high costs associated with current diagnostic methods for CRC, underscore the need to explore innovative procedures for the early detection of tissue abnormalities. Existing research suggests that patients affected by this condition exhibit distinctive alterations in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ratios in their exhaled breath.

An innovative SPME head space GC–MS method, in cooling mode, using a fully automated routine, was developed to detect 2-phenyl-2-propanol, a representative urinary metabolite of cumene. Following an acid hydrolysis and derivatization step with lowered quantities of reagents, acetic anhydride and pyridine, a 30 μm polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber was used to sample derivatized 2-phenyl-2-propanol, such as benzenemethanol,α,α-dimethyl-acetate, from the headspace. Performances of the method, optimized through experimental design, provide an LOD of 0.034 mg/L and an LOQ 0.10 mg/L, with a short sampling time necessary per sample. The method, developed on standard solutions, will be applied to both occupationally exposed and non-exposed populations.

Background: In response to the growing demand for the real-time, in-field characterization of odorous anthropogenic emissions, this study develops and uses a MEMS-based micropacked thermal desorption Gas Chromatography system coupled with a PhotoIonization Detector (GC/PID) for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) plant emissions. Methods: The innovative portable device, Pyxis GC, enables the high-sensitivity profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), particularly aldehydes and ketones, with sub-ppb detection limits using ambient air as the carrier gas. A comprehensive experimental design optimized the preconcentration parameters, resulting in an efficient, green analytical method evaluated via the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI). Sorbent comparison showed quinoxaline-bridged cavitands outperform the conventional materials. Results and conclusions: The method was successfully deployed on site for source-specific sampling at an HMA plant, generating robust emission fingerprints. To assess environmental impact, a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was developed, incorporating the process temperature and Sum of Odour Activity Values (SOAV) to predict odour concentrations. The model revealed a significant non-linear influence of temperature on emissions and validated its predictive capability despite the limited sample size. This integrated analytical–statistical approach demonstrates the utility of MEMS technology for real-time air quality assessment and odour dispersion modelling, offering a powerful tool for environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance.

Odorous emissions from hot-mix asphalt (HMA) plants are a growing environmental concern, particularly due to airborne aldehydes and ketones, which have low odor thresholds and a strong sensory impact. This study presents a field-ready analytical method for monitoring odor-active volatile compounds. The system uses dynamic solid-phase microextraction (SPME and SPME Arrow) with on-fiber derivatization via O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA) and is coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for direct detection. A flow-cell sampling unit enables the real-time capture of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones under transient emission conditions. Calibration using permeation tubes demonstrated sensitivity (limits of detection (LODs) below 0.13 μg/m³), recovery above 85% and consistent reproducibility. Compound identity was confirmed using retention indices and fragmentation patterns. Uncertainty assessment followed ISO GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) standards, thereby validating the method’s environmental applicability. Field deployment 200 m from an HMA facility identified measurable concentrations that aligned with CALPUFF model predictions. The method’s dual-isomer resolution and 10 min runtime make it ideal for responding to time-sensitive odor complaints. Overall, this approach supports regulatory efforts by enabling high-throughput on-site chemical monitoring and improving source attribution in cases of odor nuisance.

Microextraction Technologies (METs) have emerged as pivotal exposomic sensors for the on-site monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in ambient air. By integrating sampling and sample preparation into a single step, METs provide solvent-free, miniaturized, and field-deployable solutions that align with the principles of green analytical chemistry. This review critically examines fourteen commercially available METs, selected for their demonstrated analytical performance, commercial accessibility, and validation in real-world environments. These devices represent the current state of practice in exposomics, enabling both short-term hotspot detection and long-term exposure assessment. Particular attention is given to their compatibility with transportable and portable detection platforms, including vehicle-mounted and hand-held gas chromatography/mass spectrometry systems, where METs function as front-end concentrators that enhance sensitivity and spatial resolution. This review further discusses emerging applications in wearable formats and unmanned aerial vehicles, underscoring the role of METs in bridging laboratory-grade precision with field-based exposome research. By situating METs within the broader exposomic workflow of sampling, detection, and interpretation, this work identifies current technological gaps and outlines priorities for advancing robust, scalable, and environmentally sustainable exposure assessment strategies.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and dibromoneopentyl glycol (DBNPG), are present in both saturated and unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs). Given their toxicity, it is imperative to assess the content of this group of chemicals to ensure product safety and environmental sustainability, considering the paucity in the literature of analytical methods to evaluate them, particularly in solid matrices as UPRs. This study aimed to develop a fully automated gas chromatographic analysis of these BFRs, utilizing a flame ionization detector (FID), with prior derivatization of TBBPA and DBNPG with acetic anhydride. A chemometric evaluation was conducted for the derivatization step to enhance the yield of the procedure. The optimized method met the desired requirements for specificity, accuracy, and sensitivity, showing limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ), respectively, of 1.1 µg/mL and 3.3 µg/mL for DBNPG and 3.6 µg/mL and 10.8 µg/mL for TBBPA. Other conventional detectors, i.e., an Electron Capture Detector (ECD) and a Mass Spectrometer (MS), were tested. The ECD showed a higher sensitivity than the FID and MS; however, its linearity proved to be more limited, making it unsuitable for higher concentration scenarios. The MS detector yielded results comparable with those of the FID, yet the latter is a cheaper and more sensitive alternative.