On-line laser photoacoustic detection of ethene in exhaled air as biomarker of ultraviolet radiation damage of the human skin

The exhaled air and volatile emission by the skin of human subjects were an alyzed for traces of ethene (C2H4) by means of CO2 laser photoacoustic trac e gas detection. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the detection system (6 part per trillion volume, 6: 10(12)), these measurements could be performed on-line and noninvasively. Exhaled ethene was used as a biomarker for lipi d peroxidation in the skin of human subjects exposed to ultraviolet (UV) ra diation from a solarium. A change in the ethene concentration was already o bserved in the exhaled air after 2 min. Adaptation of the skin to UV exposu re and direct skin emission could also be observed. (C) 1999 American Insti tute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01312-1].