What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to develop a reliable method for biomonitoring urinary formaldehyde levels in occupational settings.

April 1, 2026Open Access

A new tool to support the protection of workers’ health: development and application of an innovative analytical method for biomonitoring occupational exposure to formaldehyde

Key Points

The aim is to develop a reliable method for biomonitoring urinary formaldehyde levels in occupational settings.
Developed a sensitive analytical method using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Optimized on-fiber derivatization to ensure accurate and reproducible results.
Validated method for linearity, sensitivity, precision, and robustness in biological samples.
Evaluated method in an occupational biomonitoring campaign with 124 subjects.
Urinary formaldehyde concentrations exhibited significant variability among individuals.
Overlap in urinary levels between exposed and non-exposed groups, especially at low exposure.
Some correlations found between urinary levels and factors like sex and smoking habits, but not with age or body mass index.
The developed method proves reliable for detecting trace levels of formaldehyde.

Abstract

Abstract Formaldehyde (FA) is a widely used industrial chemical and a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, for which biological monitoring remains challenging due to its high reactivity and substantial endogenous background. In the present study, a sensitive and selective analytical method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber derivatization (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) was developed and applied for the determination of urinary FA. Direct on-fiber derivatization using O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine (PFBHA) was optimized to ensure quantitative derivatization, reproducibility, and minimal sample handling. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, and robustness, demonstrating suitability for trace-level FA determination in complex biological matrices. The applicability of the method was evaluated in an occupational biomonitoring campaign involving 124 subjects, including workers occupationally exposed to FA (healthcare personnel, laboratory staff, and firefighters) and non-exposed administrative employees. Urinary FA concentrations showed wide inter-individual variability and substantial overlap between exposed and non-exposed groups, particularly at low exposure levels. Stratified analyses indicated associations with sex and smoking habits, while age and body mass index showed no clear influence. Overall, the results highlight both the analytical reliability of the proposed HS-SPME GC–MS/MS approach and the biological complexity of urinary FA as an exposure biomarker. Graphical Abstract

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper