**3. Choice of sample matrix type collected non-invasively**

As in any case of chemical pollutants monitoring a sample must to render an accurate picture about chemical compounds composition present in the environmental media from which the sample was taken at the sampling moment. In order of eliminating the problems of invasive sampling method of biological matrix from living beings, now sample matrixes were chosen on the following principles:


Non-Invasive Matrices Use in Pollution Evaluation

biomonitoring or animal biomonitoring studies.

**Subjects number** 

**and key information regarding them**

*Cluj district* Rural sites Urban sites Industrial sites

*Salaj district* Rural sites Urban sites Industrial sites

*district*  Rural sites Urban sites Industrial sites

*Bistrita Nasaud* 

**4.1 Sample collection and its preparation for analysis** 

**Gender** 

*Female Male*

13 18 10

10 26 4

12 16 1

16 15 9

6 22 5

15 10 -

at Nanoscale Levels: A Way Forward in Ecotoxicological Studies 173

**4. Sample preparation and analytical methods selection for analyzing organic** 

Through these studies two sample matrixes were chosen in order to evaluate the surrounding environmental contaminants on inhabitants, namely hair – in order to get a general overview about organic contaminants impact on humans exposed to them, and milk – throughout to could form an image regarding the infants' exposure from early age life. As regards animal exposure biomonitoring hair was chosen for mammalian animal subjects and feather in case of poultries biomonitoring studies. Therefore in our biomonitoring study we were able to collect high enough samples on an extended range of subjects (as species, age and geographical position) without causing any harm even when we talk about human

In case of human biomonitoring as was suggested two sample matrixes were used, once – hair samples which made possible to be applied for any kind of subjects as age, gender, etc. and secondly – breast milk samples which as it matrix nature shows it was possible to be applied just for a special class of subjects - namely nursing mothers, way throughout we were able to found information about mother exposure as well about the infant exposure. Both methods

**Age** 

5-62 9-71 22-49

10-66 15-73 33-43

3-60 15-45 39

Table 1. General information about the studied inhabitants from the three selected regions.

in case of mammalians and feather in case of poultry subjects subjected for study.

As regards animal subjects that were implied in our biomonitoring programs, hair was used

Totally 208 number of human subjects were involved in these biomonitoring studies. Details regarding the human biomonitors are given in table 1. Shortly, 98 females were involved in this study from which 18 were child and 26 were nursing mother from which milk samples were collected also. As regards male, 110 subjects were monitored from which 20 persons were child. From this 208 subjects 131 persons declared smoking and diet pattern from

**Working space exposure** 

> 2 1 6

> 1 2 1

> > - - -

**Living place exposure**

> - 10 19

> > - - 9

> > - - 1

**Smoker or diet habit** 

> 17 20 13

> 9 35 5

> 13 18 1

don't involve any kind of physical or physiological trauma on the involved subjects.

**contaminants in biological samples collected non-invasively** 

	- in sufficient quantities to could perform the chemical analysis in a reliable, accurate and sensitive mode
	- to allow sampling on a more extensive field as number of samples, subject species, geographical position, duration, etc.

#### **3.1 Noninvasively collected biological sample matrices from inhabitants**

In case of human biomonitoring as regards their exposure levels to environmental contaminants as matrices sampled in a non-invasive way may be taken into accounts these types of samples: hair, nail, saliva, urine, milk, etc.

From these, the most often used sample in toxicological and environmental medicine studies was *urine* – these type of samples being used for different analytical assessment (medical, toxicological, ecotoxicological) with years ago, especially when water-soluble chemicals and environmental contaminants were the targets of study. Choosing of this type of matrices from very old times is because urine provides good information about the chemical content uptake by the human body and not in the last because it was easy to be collected and the available amount was sufficient to perform the analysis in good conditions. Also it is available at large scale as subject's geographical position, age and gender.

*Hair*, nowadays is another well used biological matrix presenting as major advantage its stability as matrix (comparing with other biological matrix), and easy collection, transport and storage. Hair as biomonitoring matrix is able to provide information both about short or long time exposure to contaminants of the studied subject.

*Human breast milk* is also o biological matrix that is collected through noninvasive ways. This sample type is used extensively when it is required information from both the mother as well her child. This sample is extremely suitable specially in monitoring of lipophilic chemicals considering its increased content in fat.

*Nails* and *saliva* are also noninvasively collected matrices that could be used in biomonitoring considering its low cost and the ease way through that they could be collected permitting the surveillance of a large number of subjects.

Once with the extension and evolution of this way of ecotoxicological and environmental epidemiology studies new biological sample matrixes collected also without cause any discomfort or damage on the studied subjects started to be introduced. Such of matrixes are sweat, faeces, semen, placenta and breath.

#### **3.2 Noninvasively collected biological sample matrices from animal subjects**

In case of animals monitoring previous studies has showed that uses of hair and feathers are useful in environmental contaminants impact evaluation on them. Also milk analysis could be used in term to evaluate the contaminants transfer from mammals to their offspring from the first days of their early life. Such kind of analysis helps to conclude the exposure pathways and its impact even on newborn subjects, giving important information for the future, which will help to understand subjects' development and pathological profile from their maturity period.



In case of human biomonitoring as regards their exposure levels to environmental contaminants as matrices sampled in a non-invasive way may be taken into accounts these

From these, the most often used sample in toxicological and environmental medicine studies was *urine* – these type of samples being used for different analytical assessment (medical, toxicological, ecotoxicological) with years ago, especially when water-soluble chemicals and environmental contaminants were the targets of study. Choosing of this type of matrices from very old times is because urine provides good information about the chemical content uptake by the human body and not in the last because it was easy to be collected and the available amount was sufficient to perform the analysis in good conditions. Also it is

*Hair*, nowadays is another well used biological matrix presenting as major advantage its stability as matrix (comparing with other biological matrix), and easy collection, transport and storage. Hair as biomonitoring matrix is able to provide information both about short or

*Human breast milk* is also o biological matrix that is collected through noninvasive ways. This sample type is used extensively when it is required information from both the mother as well her child. This sample is extremely suitable specially in monitoring of lipophilic

*Nails* and *saliva* are also noninvasively collected matrices that could be used in biomonitoring considering its low cost and the ease way through that they could be

Once with the extension and evolution of this way of ecotoxicological and environmental epidemiology studies new biological sample matrixes collected also without cause any discomfort or damage on the studied subjects started to be introduced. Such of matrixes are

In case of animals monitoring previous studies has showed that uses of hair and feathers are useful in environmental contaminants impact evaluation on them. Also milk analysis could be used in term to evaluate the contaminants transfer from mammals to their offspring from the first days of their early life. Such kind of analysis helps to conclude the exposure pathways and its impact even on newborn subjects, giving important information for the future, which will help to understand subjects' development and pathological profile from

**3.2 Noninvasively collected biological sample matrices from animal subjects** 

**3.1 Noninvasively collected biological sample matrices from inhabitants** 

available at large scale as subject's geographical position, age and gender.

long time exposure to contaminants of the studied subject.

collected permitting the surveillance of a large number of subjects.

chemicals considering its increased content in fat.

sweat, faeces, semen, placenta and breath.

their maturity period.

to allow to be sampled:

accurate and sensitive mode

geographical position, duration, etc.

types of samples: hair, nail, saliva, urine, milk, etc.
