This study presents a new method for collecting and handling saliva samples using an automated analytical microsyringe and microextraction by packed syringe (MEPS). The screening and determination of lidocaine in human saliva samples utilizing MEPS and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were carried out. An exact volume of saliva could be collected. The MEPS C-8-cartridge could be used for 50 extractions before it was discarded. The extraction recovery was about 60%. The pharmacokinetic curve of lidocaine in saliva using MEPS-LC-MS/MS is reported.

Saliva offers a fast and non-invasive sampling matrix for determining drug concentration levels, making it a suitable alternative to plasma and blood. During the analysis of biological samples attention is focused on sample pre-treatment. In addition, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) is often the method of choice in bioanalysis because of the good selectivity and good sensitivity of the technique. In this article, two sample handling and sample preparation methods for saliva samples are presented and discussed. The first method is microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), and the second method is dried saliva spot (DSS). Both methods were applied for determining the presence of lidocaine in saliva.

For the first time, dried saliva spot (DSS) was used as a sampling technique for saliva samples. In the DSS technique 50 L of saliva was collected on filter paper and the saliva was then extracted with an organic solvent. The local anesthetic lidocaine was used as a model compound, which was determined in the DSS using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results obtained for the determination of lidocaine in saliva using DSS were compared with those from a previous study using a microextraction by packed sorbent syringe as the sampling method for saliva. This study shows that DSS can be used for the analysis of saliva samples. The method is promising and very easy in terms of sampling and extraction procedures. The results from this study are in good agreement with those from our previous work on the determination of lidocaine in saliva. DSS can open a new dimension in the saliva handling process in terms of sampling, storing and transport.

In this study the use of micro-liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was investigated in routine bioanalysis application for separation and quantification of pro-drug AZD6319 (developed for aldezheimer treatment). Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was used as sample clean-up method. The focus of this study was put on the evaluation of the usability of smaller column diameters such as 1.0 and 0.3mm instead of 2.1mm in bioanalysis application to reduce solvent consumption and sample volumes. Solvent consumption was reduced by 80% when a 1.0mm column was used compared with 2.1mm column. Robustness of the micro-columns in terms of accuracy and precision was investigated. The application of LC-MS/MS for the quantitative analysis of AZD6319 in plasma samples showed good selectivity, accuracy and precision. The coefficients of determination (R-2) were >0.998 for all runs using plasma samples on the studied micro-columns. The inter-day accuracy values for quality control samples ranged from 99 to 103% and from 96 to 105% for 0.3x50mm and 1.0x50mm columns, respectively. The inter-day precision values ranged from 4.0 to 9.0% and from 4.0 to 8.0% for 0.3x50 and 1.0x50mm columns, respectively. In addition the sensitivity was increased by three times using a 1.0mm column compared with 2.1mm. Furthermore, robustness of the micro-columns from different manufacturers was investigated.

A multidimensional, on-line coupled liquid chromatographic/gas chromatographic system was developed for the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A two-dimensional liquid chromatographic system (2D-liquid chromatography (LC)), with three columns having different selectivities, was connected on-line to a two-dimensional gas chromatographic system (2D-gas chromatography (GC)). Samples were cleaned up by combining normal elution and column back-flush of the LC columns to selectively remove matrix constituents and isolate well-defined, PAH enriched fractions. Using this system, the sequential removal of polar, mono/diaromatic, olefinic and alkane compounds from crude extracts was achieved. The LC/GC coupling was performed using a fused silica transfer line into a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) GC injector. Using the PTV in the solvent vent mode, excess solvent was removed and the enriched PAH sample extract was injected into the GC. The 2D-GC setup consisted of two capillary columns with different stationary phase selectivities. Heart-cutting of selected PAH compounds in the first GC column (first dimension) and transfer of these to the second GC column (second dimension) increased the baseline resolutions of closely eluting PAHs. The on-line system was validated using the standard reference materials SRM 1649a (urban dust) and SRM 1975 (diesel particulate extract). The PAH concentrations measured were comparable to the certified values and the fully automated LC/GC system performed the clean-up, separation and detection of PAHs in 16 extracts in less than 24 h. The multidimensional, on-line 2D-LC/2D-GC system eliminated manual handling of the sample extracts and minimised the risk of sample loss and contamination, while increasing accuracy and precision.

Non-target screening with LC/IMS/HRMS is increasingly employed for detecting and identifying the structure of potentially hazardous chemicals in the environment and food. Structural assignment relies on a combination of multidimensional instrumental methods and computational methods. The candidate structures are often isomeric, and unfortunately, assigning the correct structure among a number of isomeric candidate structures still is a key challenge both instrumentally and computationally. While practicing non-target screening, it is usually impossible to evaluate separately the limitations arising from (1) the inability of LC/IMS/HRMS to resolve the isomeric candidate structures and (2) the uncertainty of in silico methods in predicting the analytical information of isomeric candidate structures due to the lack of analytical standards for all candidate structures. Here we evaluate the feasibility of structural assignment of isomeric candidate structures based on in silico–predicted retention time and database collision cross-section (CCS) values as well as based on matching the empirical analytical properties of the detected feature with those of the analytical standards. For this, we investigated 14 candidate structures corresponding to five features detected with LC/HRMS in a spiked surface water sample. Considering the predicted retention times and database CCS values with the accompanying uncertainty, only one of the isomeric candidate structures could be deemed as unlikely; therefore, the annotation of the LC/IMS/HRMS features remained ambiguous. To further investigate if unequivocal annotation is possible via analytical standards, the reversed-phase LC retention times and low- and high-resolution ion mobility spectrometry separation, as well as high-resolution MS² spectra of analytical standards were studied. Reversed-phase LC separated the highest number of candidate structures while low-resolution ion mobility and high-resolution MS² spectra provided little means for pinpointing the correct structure among the isomeric candidate structures even if analytical standards were available for comparison. Furthermore, the question arises which prediction accuracy is required from the in silico methods to par the analytical separation. Based on the experimental data of the isomeric candidate structures studied here and previously published in the literature (516 retention time and 569 CCS values), we estimate that to reduce the candidate list by 95% of the structures, the confidence interval of the predicted retention times would need to decrease to below 0.05 min for a 15-min gradient while that of CCS values would need to decrease to 0.15%. Hereby, we set a clear goal to the in silico methods for retention time and CCS prediction.

Computer simulations can be useful aids for both developing new analytical methods and enhancing the performance of existing techniques. This thesis is based on studies in which computer simulations were key elements in the development of several new tools for use in gas chromatography and dielectrophoresis. In gas chromatography, gaseous analytes are separated by exploiting differences in their partitioning between different phases, and after their partitioning parameters have been determined the separations can be computationally predicted, and optimized, for a wide range of operating conditions. Similarly, in dielectrophoresis, particles with differing polarizability or size can be separated, and since particle trajectories within a separation device can be predicted using computations, the suitability of new designs, applications of forces and combinations of operational parameters can be assessed without necessarily making or empirically testing all of the variants.

Using two existing numerical methods combined with semi-empirical determinations of retention behavior, temperature-programmed gas chromatograms were predicted with less than one percent deviations from experimental data, and a new method for improving the capacity of a gas-trapping device was predicted and experimentally verified. In addition, two new concepts with potential capacity to enhance dielectrophoretic separations were developed and tested in simulations. The first provides a promising way to improve the trapping of bacteria in media with elevated conductivity by using super-positioned electric fields, and the second a way to increase selectivity in the separation of bio-particles by using multiple dielectrophoretic cycles. The studies also introduced a more accurate method for determining the conductivity of suspensions of bacteria, and a new computational method for determining the dielectrophoretic behavior of particles in concentrated suspensions.

The scientific studies are summarized and discussed in the main text of this thesis, and presented in detail in seven appended papers.

Optimization of separations in gas chromatography is often a time-consuming task. However, computer simulations of chromatographic experiments may greatly reduce the time required. In this study, the finite element method was used to predict the retention times and peak widths of three analytes eluting from each of four columns during chromatographic separations with two temperature programs. The data acquired were displayed in predicted chromatograms that were then compared to experimentally acquired chromatograms. The differences between the predicted and measured retention times were typically less than 0.1%, although the experimental peak widths were typically 10% larger than expected from the idealized calculations. Input data for the retention and peak dispersion calculations were obtained from isothermal experiments, and converted to thermodynamic parameters.

We have developed an iterative procedure for predicting the retention times of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes during separations by temperature-programmed gas chromatography. The procedure is based on estimates of two thermodynamic properties for each analyte (the differences in enthalpy and entropy associated with movements between the stationary and mobile phases) derived from data acquired experimentally in separations under isothermal conditions at temperatures spanning the range covered by the temperature programs in ten-degree increments. The columns used for this purpose were capillary columns containing polydimethylsiloxane-based stationary phases with three degrees of phenyl substitution (0%, 5%, and 50%). Predicted values were mostly within 1% of experimentally determined values, implying that the method is stable and precise.

This work explores a novel method for rearranging 1st order (one-way) infra-red (IR) and/or near infra-red (NIR) ordinary spectra into a representation suitable for multi-way modelling and analysis. The method is based on the fact that the fundamental IR absorption and the first, second, and consecutive overtones of NIR absorptions represent identical chemical information. It is therefore possible to rearrange these overtone regions of the vectors comprising an IR and NIR spectrum into a matrix where the fundamental, 1st, 2nd, and consecutive overtones of the spectrum are arranged as either rows or columns in a matrix, resulting in a true three-way tensor of data for several samples. This tensorization facilitates explorative analysis and modelling with multi-way methods, for example parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), N-way partial least squares (N-PLS), and Tucker models. The vibrational overtone combination spectroscopy (VOCSY) arrangement is shown to benefit from the “order advantage”, producing more robust, stable, and interpretable models than, for example, the traditional PLS modelling method. The proposed method also opens the field of NIR for true peak decomposition—a feature unique to the method because the latent factors acquired using PARAFAC can represent pure spectral components whereas latent factors in principal component analysis (PCA) and PLS usually do not.

In 1H NMR metabolomic datasets, there are often over a thousand peaks per spectrum, many of which change position drastically between samples. Automatic alignment, annotation, and quantification of all the metabolites of interest in such datasets have not been feasible. In this work we propose a fully automated annotation and quantification procedure which requires annotation of metabolites only in a single spectrum. The reference database built from that single spectrum can be used for any number of 1H NMR datasets with a similar matrix. The procedure is based on the generalized fuzzy Hough transform (GFHT) for alignment and on Principal-components analysis (PCA) for peak selection and quantification. We show that we can establish quantities of 21 metabolites in several 1H NMR datasets and that the procedure is extendable to include any number of metabolites that can be identified in a single spectrum. The procedure speeds up the quantification of previously known metabolites and also returns a table containing the intensities and locations of all the peaks that were found and aligned but not assigned to a known metabolite. This enables both biopattern analysis of known metabolites and data mining for new potential biomarkers among the unknowns.

This paper approaches the problem of intersample peak correspondence in the context of later applying statistical data analysis techniques to 1D ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. Any data analysis methodology will fail to produce meaningful results if the analyzed data table is not synchronized, i.e., each analyzed variable frequency (Hz) does not originate from the same chemical source throughout the entire dataset. This is typically the case when dealing with NMR data from biological samples. In this paper, we present a new state of the art for solving this problem using the generalized fuzzy Hough transform (GFHT). This paper describes significant improvements since the method was introduced for NMR datasets of plasma in Csenki et al. (Anal Bioanal Chem 389:875-885, 15) and is now capable of synchronizing peaks from more complex datasets such as urine as well as plasma data. We present a novel way of globally modeling peak shifts using principal component analysis, a new algorithm for calculating the transform and an effective peak detection algorithm. The algorithm is applied to two real metabonomic ¹H-NMR datasets and the properties of the method are compared to bucketing. We implicitly prove that GFHT establishes the objectively true correspondence. Desirable features of the GFHT are: (1) intersample peak correspondence even if peaks change order on the frequency axis and (2) the method is symmetric with respect to the samples.

This work addresses the subject of time-series analysis of comprehensive ¹H-NMR data of biological origin. One of the problems with toxicological and efficacy studies is the confounding of correlation between the administered drug, its metabolites and the systemic changes in molecular dynamics, i.e., the flux of drug-related molecules correlates with the molecules of system regulation. This correlation poses a problem for biomarker mining since this confounding must be untangled in order to separate true biomarker molecules from dose-related molecules. One way of achieving this goal is to perform pharmacokinetic analysis. The difference in pharmacokinetic time profiles of different molecules can aid in the elucidation of the origin of the dynamics, this can even be achieved regardless of whether the identity of the molecule is known or not. This mode of analysis is the basis for metabonomic studies of toxicology and efficacy. One major problem concerning the analysis of ¹H-NMR data generated from metabonomic studies is that of the peak positional variation and of peak overlap. These phenomena induce variance in the data, obscuring the true information content and are hence unwanted but hard to avoid. Here, we show that by using the generalized fuzzy Hough transform spectral alignment, variable selection, and parallel factor analysis, we can solve both the alignment and the confounding problem stated above. Using the outlined method, several different temporal concentration profiles can be resolved and the majority of the studied molecules and their respective fluxes can be attributed to these resolved kinetic profiles. The resolved time profiles hereby simplifies finding true biomarkers and bio-patterns for early detection of biological conditions as well as providing more detailed information about the studied biological system. The presented method represents a significant step forward in time-series analysis of biological ¹H-NMR data as it provides almost full automation of the whole data analysis process and is able to analyze over 800 unique features per sample. The method is demonstrated using a ¹H-NMR rat urine dataset from a toxicology study and is compared with a classical approach: COW alignment followed by bucketing.

Aging is a complex multifactorial phenomenon, which is believed to result from the accumulation of cellular damage to biological macromolecules. Peroxisomes recently emerged as another important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in addition to mitochondria. However, the role of these organelles in the process of aging is still not clear. The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in protein expression profiles of young (10 weeks old) versus old (18 months old) mouse liver peroxisome-enriched fractions. We have applied shotgun proteomic approach based on liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) labeling that allows comparative quantitative multiplex analysis. Our analysis led to identification and quantification of 150 proteins, 8 out of which were differentially expressed between two age groups at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05), with folds ranging from 1.2 to 4.1. These proteins involved in peroxisornal beta-oxidation, detoxification of xenobiotics and production of ROS. Noteworthy, differences in liver proteome have been observed between as well as within different age groups. In conclusion, our subproteomic quantitative study suggests that mouse liver proteome is sufficiently maintained until certain age.

Analysis of compounds present in complex matrices is always a challenge, which can be partly overcome by applying various sample preparation techniques prior to detection. Ideally, the extraction techniques should be as selective as possible, to minimize the concentration of interfering substances. In addition, results can be improved by efficient chromatographic separation of the sample components. The elimination of interfering substances is especially important when utilizing mass spectrometry (MS) as a detection technique since they influence the ionization yields. It is also important to optimize ionization methods in order to minimize detection limits.

In the work this thesis is based upon, selective solid phase extraction (SPE) materials, a restricted access material (RAM) and graphitized carbon black (GCB) were employed for clean up and/or pre-concentration of analytes in plasma, urine and agricultural drainage water prior to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Two SPE formats, in which GCB was incorporated in µ-traps and disks, were developed for cleaning up small and large volume samples, respectively. In addition, techniques based on use of sub-2 µm C₁₈ particles at elevated temperatures and a linear ion trap (LIT) mass spectrometer were developed to improve the efficiency of LC separation and sensitivity of detection of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) metabolites in human urine.

It was also found that GCB can serve not only as a SPE sorbent, but also as a valuable surface for surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) of small molecules. The dual functionality of GCB was utilized in a combined screening-identification/quantification procedure for fast elimination of negative samples. This may be particularly useful when processing large numbers of samples. SALDI analyses of small molecules was further investigated and improved by employing two kinds of new surfaces: oxidized GCB nanoparticles and silicon nitride.

A simple platform for combining solid phase extraction (SPE) and surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) of extracted analytes, using disks prepared by embedding graphitized carbon black (GCB-4) particles in a network of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is presented. The system provides a convenient approach for rapid SALDI-MS screening of substances in aqueous samples, which can be followed by robust quantitative and/or structural analyses by liquid chromatography (LC)/MS/MS of positive samples. The extraction discs are easily transferred between gaskets where the sample extraction and desorption of selected samples is performed and the mass spectrometer. The SPE and SALDI properties of the new GCB-4 disc have been characterized for 15 pesticides with varying chemical properties, and the screening strategy has been applied to the analysis of pesticides in agricultural drainage water. Atrazine and atrazine-desethyl-2-hydroxy were detected in the sampled water by SALDI-MS screening and subsequently confirmed and quantified using LC/MS/MS.

The possibility to utilize nanocomposite films as easy-to-handle surfaces for surface assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) of small molecules, such as pharmaceutical compounds, was evaluated. The signal-to-noise values of acebutolol, propranolol and carbamazepine obtained on the nanocomposite surfaces were higher than the values obtained on plain PLA surface showing that the nanoparticles participate in the ionization/desorption process even when they are immobilized in the polymer matrix. The advantages of nanocomposite films compared to the free nanoparticles used in earlier studies are the ease of handling and reduction of instrument contamination since the particles are immobilized into the polymer matrix. Eight inorganic nanoparticles, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, hydroxyapatite, montmorillonite nanoclay, halloysite nanoclay, silicon nitride and graphitized carbon black at different concentrations were solution casted to films with polylactide (PLA). There were large differences in signal intensities depending on the type of drug, type of nanoparticle and the concentration of nanoparticles. Polylactide with 10% titanium oxide or 10% silicon nitride functioned best as SALDI-MS surfaces. The limit of detection (LOD) for the study was ranging from 1.7 ppm up to 56.3 ppm and the signal to noise relative standard deviations for the surface containing 10% silicon nitride was approximately 20-30%. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated in most cases a good distribution of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix and contact angle measurements showed increasing hydrophobicity when the nanoparticle concentration was increased, which could influence the desorption and ionization. Overall, the results show that nanocomposite films have potential as surfaces for SALDI-MS analysis of small molecules.

As a remarkably powerful analytical technique, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) continues to find applications from molecular biology and chemistry to environmental and food sciences. In search of reliable and affordable SERS substrates, the development has moved from noble metals to other diverse types of structures, e.g., nano-engineered semiconductor materials, but the cost of the enhancement factors (EF) substantially decreasing. In this work, we employ biocompatible thin films of Ti–Si–Zr–Zn nanometallic glasses as the SERS substrates, while tuning the Zn composition. Aided by quartz crystal microbalance, we find that the composition of 4.3% Zn (Ti–Si–Zr–Zn_4.3) gives an ultrasensitive detection of Cytochrome c (Cyt c) with an EF of 1.38 × 10⁴, 10-fold higher than the previously reported EF in the semiconducting metal oxide nanomaterials, such as TiO₂, and even comparable to the reported noble-metal-assisted semiconducting tungsten oxide hydrate. Ti–Si–Zr–Zn_4.3 exhibits a stronger adhesion force toward Cyt c, which ensures the strong binding of Cyt c to the surface, facilitating the Cyt c adsorption onto the surface and thus enhancing the SERS signal. The high separation efficiency of photoinduced electrons and holes in Ti–Si–Zr–Zn_4.3 is also acknowledged for promoting the SERS activity. 

beta-N-Methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is an important non-protein amino acid linked to neurodegenerative diseases, specifically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Because it can be transferred and bioaccumulated higher up the food chain, it poses significant public health concerns; thus, improved detection methods are of prime importance for the identification and management of these toxins. Here, we report the successful use of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid (C-4-NA-NHS) for the efficient separation of BMAA from its isomers and higher sensitivity in detecting BMAA compared to the current method of choice using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization. Implementation of this efficient method allowed localization of BMAA in the non-visceral tissues of blue mussels, suggesting that more efficient depuration may be required to remove this toxin prior to consumption. This is a crucial method in establishing the absence or presence of the neurotoxic amino acid BMAA in food, environmental or biomedical samples.

Chemicals entering the market have been steadily increasing. The Swedish Chemicals Agency is in control of the Swedish Products Register, which is storing information on chemicals  manufactured in, transferred, or imported into Sweden. Applied to the register comes the exposure index predicting exposure of chemicals. For this study, the exposure index was used to make a first prioritization of chemicals with potential of exposure to consumers, the list of suspects were further prioritized by in silico predicted physiochemical properties. Six synthetic antioxidants 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 2,4,6-tris-tert-butyl-phenol, 2,2´-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4´-methylene-bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenol) propionate), were selected for target analysis. Great care to background contamination is applied since the analytes are used in everyday objects such as food package and personal care products. Human serum samples was collected from “Blodcentralen” in Stockholm, Sweden. Previous analytical methods exist for individual and combination for a few analytes but lacks in combination of all selected analytes. A previous method for the extraction without clean-up of some of the analytes in serum were tested but lacked in efficiency for all analytes, hence an clean-up step for removal of lipids were added. A gas chromatography mass spectrometry method was developed for simultaneous analysis of the six analytes. Four of the target analytes were detected and three were quantified (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol 2.20-3.33 ng/mL, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol 3.22-3.93 ng/mL and 2,4,6-tris-tert-butyl-phenol 0.054-0.104 ng/mL). 2,2´-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) was detected in high concentration but due to linearity problems (R2<0.99) it was not quantified. To the best of my knowledge this is the first time that 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol and 2,2´- methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) have been detected in human serum.

Adverse health effects have been linked to exposure to particulate matter, and wood combustion is considered as an important source of harmful particulate matter in the urban air and environment. Hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a group of compounds with toxic, endocrine disrupting and carcinogenic properties. Sources of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are different incomplete combustion processes, such as coal and wood combustion. They can also be formed by microbiological and/or photochemical degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment.

This thesis describes analytical strategies and methods that have been developed and used for screening, tentative identification and determination of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wood combustion and urban air particles. Conventional targeted analytical methods have been developed for compounds with available reference standards, while suspect and non-target screening strategies have been used for the identification of suspects and unknown compounds lacking reference standards. Each step of the developed analytical methods is described and discussed: the choice of the analytical strategy, sampling of the matrices, extraction, clean-up, instrumental analysis, data processing and validation of the methods.

The influence of wood type (birch, spruce, pine and aspen) and burning conditions (nominal and high burn rate) on the hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions has been examined, showing that emissions from nominal burn rate combustion correspond on average to 14 % of the emissions from high burn rate combustion. It has been shown that spruce and pine have the highest emissions for nominal burn rate and high burn rate combustion, respectively.

The composition of wood combustion particles has been examined and 32 suspect hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been tentatively identified together with 20 other oxygen-containing small molecular weight compounds. Furthermore, the presence of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particles from an urban background and a car tunnel has been investigated, and nine target and 11 suspect hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been determined and tentatively identified, respectively.

In summary, this thesis has shown that wood combustion is an important emission source of hydroxylated aromatic hydrocarbons and that the chemical composition of the emitted particles strongly depends on both burning conditions and wood type. Furthermore, the findings suggest that there might be other sources of these compounds in the urban environment than wood burning, such as the traffic. Thus, further investigations are required to fully understand the formation, sources and presence of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. The suitability of different analytical strategies and methods for identification and determination of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is also discussed.

Urban particulate matter (PM), asphalt, and tire samples were investigated for their content of benzothiazole and benzothiazole derivates. The purpose of this study was to examine whether wear particles, i.e., tire tread wear or road surface wear, could contribute to atmospheric concentrations of benzothiazole derivatives. Airborne particulate matter (PM₁₀) sampled at a busy street in Stockholm, Sweden, contained on average 17 pg/m³ benzothiazole and 64 pg/m³ 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and the total suspended particulate-associated benzothiazole and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole concentrations were 199 and 591 pg/m³, respectively. This indicates that tire tread wear may be a major source of these benzothiazoles to urban air PM in Stockholm. Furthermore, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole was determined in urban air particulates for the first time in this study, and its presence in inhalable PM₁₀ implies that the human exposure to this biocide is underestimated. This calls for a revision of the risk assessments of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole exposure to humans which currently is limited to occupational exposure.

A high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method utilizing electrospray ionization in positive and negative mode has been developed for the separation and detection of benzothiazole and benzotriazole derivates. Ultra-sonication assisted solvent extraction of these compounds has also been developed and the overall method demonstrated on a selected clothing textile and an automobile tire sample. Matrix effects and extraction recoveries, as well as linearity and limits of detection have been evaluated. The calibration curves spanned over more than two orders of magnitude with coefficients of correlation R² > 0.99 and the limits of detection and the limits of quantification were in the range 1.7–58 pg injected and 18–140 pg/g, respectively. The extraction recoveries ranged between 69% and 102% and the matrix effects between 75% and 101%. Benzothiazole and benzotriazole derivates were determined in the textile sample and benzothiazole derivatives determined in the tire sample with good analytical performance.

The aims of the work this thesis is based upon were to develop convenient analytical procedures for determining resin acids in biological and environmental matrices, and apply them to enhance understanding of the occurrence, exposure to and uptake by exposed individuals of resin acids. Particular focus has been on the workplace environment of the Swedish wood pellets industry. Sample extraction procedures and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) methodologies were developed for measuring resin acids in dust, skin and urine samples. Chromatographic separation of abietic (AA) and pimaric acid was achieved by using a polar-embedded C₁₂ stationary phase. The HPLC/ESI-MS method avoids undesirable oxidation of AA, which was found to occur during the derivatisation step in the standard MDHS 83/2 gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection (GC/FID) methodology, leading to false observations of both AA and the oxidation product 7-oxodehydroabietic acid (7-OXO). Personal exposures to resin acids in the Swedish wood pellet production industry were found to be lower, on average, than the British Occupational Exposure Limit for rosin (50 µg/m³). The oxidised resin acid 7-OXO, was detected in both dust and skin samples indicating the presence of allergenic resin acids. A correlation between air and post-shift urinary concentrations of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA), and a trend towards an increase in urinary 7-OXO during work shifts, were also observed. Whether the increase in 7-OXO was due to direct uptake or metabolism of other resin acids cannot be concluded from the results. An efficient HPLC/UV methodology with diode-array detection was developed for screening commercial products for rosin that could be used in laboratories lacking mass spectrometers. Very high concentrations of free resin acids were detected in depilatory wax strips using the method.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy is a powerful and versatile tool to investigate the structure and dynamics of proteins in solution. The intrinsically low extinction coefficient of the amide I mode, the main structure-related oscillator, together with the high infrared absorptivity of aqueous media, requires that proteins are studied at high concentrations (>10 mg L(-1)). This may represent a challenge in the study of aggregation-prone proteins and peptides, and questions the significance of structural data obtained for proteins physiologically existing at much lower concentrations. Here we describe the development of a simple experimental approach that increases the detection limit of protein structure analysis by infrared spectroscopy. Our approach relies on custom-made filters to isolate the amide I region (1700-1600 cm(-1)) from irrelevant spectral regions. The sensitivity of the instrument is then increased by background attenuation, an approach consisting in the use of a neutral density filter, such as a non-scattering metal grid, to attentuate the intensity of the background spectrum. When the filters and grid are combined, a 2.4-fold improvement in the noise level can be obtained. We have successfully tested this approach using a highly diluted solution of pyruvate kinase in deuterated medium (0.2% w/v), and found that it provides spectra of a quality comparable to those recorded with a 10-fold higher protein concentration.

Caged compounds capable of inducing large pH-jumps upon UV illumination have represented a breakthrough in time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of acidification-triggered phenomena, but their use is hampered by the inability to control the initial pH as well as to measure the final pH in mu L volumes. We have developed an experimental approach that accurately measures the initial and final pH values in pH-jump experiments. Our approach exploits the concomitant presence of two or more inorganic ions, such as carbonate and bicarbonate, that are added to the sample at a known concentration. The difference spectrum obtained in the infrared measurement is fitted to isolate the bands arising from the appearance or disappearance of either protonation state, and is then compared to a synthetic library of difference spectra generated using both qualitative (band position and width, extinction coefficient, pK) and quantitative (concentration, pathlength) parameters of the reporter ions. We have tested this approach in UV-photolysis experiments of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate in the presence of different concentrations of Na2CO3 and successfully used the infrared absorption of the carbonate and the bicarbonate ions to determine the initial and final pH values before and after the pH-jump, respectively.

Different spectroscopic approaches are often used to probe specific aspects of amyloid fibril formation but are usually performed separately and under different conditions. This makes it problematic to relate different aspects of the aggregation process when these are monitored by different methods. We report on a multispectral approach for simultaneous acquisition of infrared, fluorescence and light scattering spectra of proteins undergoing aggregation. We have applied our approach to study beta-lactoglobulin, a milk protein known to form amyloid fibrils under well-established conditions. Our real-time multispectral measurements show that unfolding of this protein is followed by formation of early aggregates consisting of intermolecular beta-sheets with a typical infrared absorption at similar to 1619 cm(-1) in (H2O)-H-2. These aggregates, which lead to an increase in the light scattering signal, do not bind the amyloid-specific fluorophore ThT and therefore consist of oligomers or protofibrils. Fibril growth is then observed as a sigmoidal increase in ThT fluorescence. After similar to 25 h, a plateau is observed in the intensities of ThT emission and of the band at 1619 cm(-1), indicating that no new fibrils are forming. However, a second phase in the light scattering signal taking place after similar to 25 h suggests that the fibrils are assembling into larger structures, known as mature fibrils. This is associated with an upshift of the main beta-sheet band in the infrared spectrum. TEM analyses confirmed the existence of thick fibrils comprising 3-5 filaments.

Prior to the evolution of DNA-based organisms on earth over 3.5 billion years ago it is hypothesized that RNA was the primary genetic molecule. Before RNA-based organisms arose, peptide nucleic acids may have been used to transmit genetic information by the earliest forms of life on earth. We discovered that cyanobacteria produce N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG), a backbone for peptide nucleic acids. We detected AEG in axenic strains of cyanobacteria with an average concentration of 1 µg/g. We also detected AEG in environmental samples of cyanobacteria as both a free or weakly bound molecule and a tightly bound form released by acid hydrolysis, at concentrations ranging from not detected to 34 µg/g. The production of AEG by diverse taxa of cyanobacteria suggests that AEG may be a primitive feature which arose early in the evolution of life on earth

A drug delivery system is defined as a formulation or a device that enables the introduction of a therapeutic substance into the body and improves its efficacy and safety by controlling the rate, time, and place of release of drugs in the body. This process includes the administration of the therapeutic product, the release of the active ingredients by the product, and the subsequent transport of the active ingredients across the biological membranes to the site of action. Drug delivery systems aim to improve patient compliance and convenience, such as, for example, fast-dissolving tablets. One of the most important goals of pharmaceutical science is localizing the pharmacological activity of the drug at the site of action. Drug delivery systems are molecular tools which, without undesired interactions at other sites, target a specific drug receptor. Keeping in view the advantages of the delivery system, rapidly disintegrating dosage forms have been successfully commercialized, and, because of increased patient demand, these dosage forms are expected to become more popular. Modern drug delivery technology has been made possible by advances in polymer science. These advances have resulted in polymers with unique properties. Drug delivery systems are made from a variety of organic and inorganic compounds such as polymers, lipids (liposomes, nanoemulsions, and solid-lipid nanoparticles), self-assembling amphiphilic molecules, dendrimers, and inorganic nanocrystals. In addition, hydrogels are novel delivery systems that have attracted much attention in current pharmaceutical research.

The antiviral materials or compounds required for the treatment of viruses cause some infectious diseases such as Coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4), rotavirus Wa strain, and adenovirus type 7 are indispensable and of great necessity. The aim of the present study was to synthesize a new series of substituted indazole derivatives obtained from 2-(4-substituted-benzylidene)-4-phenylcyclohexanones and 2,6-bis (4-substituted-benzylidene)-4-phenylcyclohexanone derivatives. The products formed were reacted with 4-hydrazinylbenzoic acid or 2hydrazino- 6-methylbenzothiazole in the presence of cuprous oxide and Cs2CO3 as catalysts to give rise to a variety of indazole derivatives in a simple experimental procedure in good yields and short reaction time. The new compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activity against Coxsackievirus B4, adenovirus type 7 and rotavirus Wa strain. The bioassay results showed that the synthesized compounds possessed variable antiviral bioactivity. Compound (3-Fluoro-7-(fluoromethylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2-(6-methylbenzo[d] thiazol-2-yl)-5phenyl-2H-indazole (24) exhibited moderate activity against both Coxsackievirus B4 and rotavius Wa strain and potentially promising activity against adenovirus type 7. On the other hand, 3-Chloro-7(chloromethylene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2-(6-methylbenzo[d] thiazol-2-yl)-5-phenyl-2H-indazole (25) and 7-(2,6-Dimethoxybenzylidene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(6-methylbenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-5phenyl-2H-indazole (26) revealed potential promising activity against adenovirus type 7, while compounds 25 and 26 revealed promising activities against rotavirus Wa strain.

The excessive use of pesticides in food production has adverse effects on both the environment and human health. In the present study, atrazine and deltamethrin were employed as pesticides in the cultivation of tomatoes, cucumbers, and brinjal. The HPLC method was utilized for thesimultaneous determination of these two pesticides, employing a cleanup approach based on polyoxometalates (POMs)ionic liquids magnetic nanocompositesCuILPOM-Fe3O4@SiO2 and ZnILPOM-Fe3O4@SiO2. These magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized and subjected to comprehensive characterization using various analytical techniques, including fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction(P-XRD),transmission electron microscope(TEM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy (EDX),thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and rheology. Thedispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) method was effectively employed for the extraction of pesticidesresidues using CuILPOM-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ and ZnILPOM-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂. Under the optimized conditions, the linear concentration ranges for atrazine and deltamethrin were found to be 0.01–100.0 µg/L and 0.05–100 µg/L, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R²) for both compounds was notably high at 0.997 and 0.994, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.01 µg/L to 0.05 µg/L, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) fell within the range of 5.1 % to 7.2 %. Ultimately, the method's performance in various food samples was assessed, resulting in satisfactory recoveries ranging from 80.9 % to 98.6 %.

Background: Contact allergy to oxidized limonene, with hydroperoxides of limonene (Lim-OOHs) as the main allergens, is common. However, high proportions of weak positive and doubtful patch test reactions have been reported. Objectives: To determine the clinical relevance, elicitation threshold and dose-response relationship of Lim-OOHs in individuals with a positive or doubtful patch test reaction to standard Lim-OOHs 0.3% pet. Methods: A multicentre 3-week double-blind vehicle-controlled repeated open application test (ROAT) study with a simulated fine fragrance containing Lim-OOHs at 1260, 420 and 140 ppm, equal to a dose/area per application of Lim-OOHs of 3.0, 0.99 and 0.33 mu g/cm(2), was performed. Results: Among 11 subjects allergic to Lim-OOHs, 11 (100%), 7 (64%), and 3 (27%), respectively, reacted to the applied doses. No reactions were seen in 17 healthy controls exposed to the highest dose. This difference in reactivity was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Among 13 subjects with doubtful patch test reactions to Lim-OOHs, two (15%) had positive ROAT reactions to the highest Lim-OOH dose applied (P = 0.36 as compared with controls). Conclusions: Contact allergy to Lim-OOHs is of clinical relevance in patients with positive patch test reactions. A doubtful patch test reaction to Lim-OOHs 0.3% pet. can be of clinical relevance.

Organophosphate and phthalate esters are polymer additives that are frequently found in air and dust in indoor environments. This thesis describes the development and application of air sampling and selective mass spectrometric (MS) determination of these two compound groups. It also describes the sampling and screening of these compounds in indoor air and dust from different environments and the development and evaluation of a method for the extraction and determination of these compounds in indoor dust.

An air sampling method previously used for air sampling of only organophosphate esters, is here demonstrated to be applicable for simultaneous sampling of both phthalate and organophosphate esters. Selective detection using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) showed good results for simultaneous determination of organophosphate and phthalate esters in air. The high selectivity of this technique was especially advantageous when analyzing dust.

Comparison of chemical profiles of the organophosphate ester between indoor environments including daycare centers, offices and private homes differed between the types of locations while the phthalate profiles were rather similar. Comparison of concentration levels of these compounds in multi-storey apartment buildings classified as either high or low risk “sick” buildings could not differentiate the two classes of buildings. Further, the studies also points out some potential sources of organophosphate and phthalate esters in these indoor environments.

In general the levels of phthalate esters were consistently higher than the levels of organophosphate esters both in air and in dust. Phthalate and organophosphate esters were also determined in a dust standard reference material; seventeen of the targeted compounds were quantified out of which ten had not previously been reported for this reference material.

The levels of 22 phthalate diesters (phthalates) and organophosphate triesters (organophosphates) have been investigated in standard reference material 2585 (SRM 2585) "organic contaminants in house dust." Ultrasonic-assisted solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction on a Florisil adsorbent were used as the extraction and cleanup steps combined with analysis using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion chemical ionization mode. Seven phthalates were detected in the concentration range 1-570 mu g/g. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was the major phthalate present at 570 mu g/g. Ten organophosphates were detected in SRM 2585. Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate was the predominant organophosphate at 82 mu g/g, and nine organophosphates were determined at concentrations ranging from 0.19 to 2.3 mu g/g. Five organophosphates were below the method detection limit, of which two were in level with the procedural blank. The applied extraction and cleanup method was evaluated for the analysis of SRM 2585. The extraction yield was a parts per thousand yen99%, except for tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (97%) and diethyl phthalate (98.5%). The problem of calibration curvature is addressed, and it is shown that the use of deuterated standards improves the analysis. The concentrations of ten organophosphate esters were determined in SRM 2585, and seven of these were compared with existing data. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the levels of the seven phthalates esters in SRM 2585 "organic contaminants in house dust.

This paper reports the abundance in indoor air and dust of eleven organophosphate esters and six phthalate esters. Both groups of these semi-volatile compounds are widely incorporated as additives into plastic materials used in the indoor environment, thus contributing to indoor exposure to industrial chemicals. Thirty sampling sites representing three different indoor environments (private homes, day care centers, and workplaces) in the Stockholm area, Sweden, were selected to obtain representative concentration profiles in both ambient air and settled dust. Eight of the target organophosphate esters and all six phthalate esters were found in both air and dust samples at all locations. The phthalate esters were more abundant than the organophosphate esters, typically ten times higher total concentrations. Especially interesting were the high levels of tributoxyethyl phosphate in the day care centers, the relatively high levels of chlorinated organophosphate esters in the air of workplaces and the overall high levels of diethylhexyl phthalate in dust. The air concentration profiles of the phosphate esters differed significantly between the three indoor environments, whereas the concentration profiles of the phthalate esters as well as their total concentrations were similar. The correlation between concentrations found in air and in dust was found to be weak.

A selective and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of 14 organophosphate and six phthalate esters using gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is presented. Both of these compound classes are frequently found in the indoor environment due to their use as bulk additives in numerous polymers, consumer products and building materials. GC/MS utilizing positive ion chemical ionisation (PICI) in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with isobutane as the reagent gas was found to be the best of the tested methods; it proved superior to electron ionisation (EI) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode and to PICI using methane as the reagent gas. The method was applied to indoor air samples collected by active air sampling using solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. Organophosphates and phthalates were simultaneously determined with method detection limits (MDLs) in the range of 0.1-47 ng m(-3). For most compounds the MDLs were <= 0.2 ng m(-3), but due to the presence of some of these ubiquitous indoor air pollutants in the blanks, significantly higher MDLs were observed for a few compounds. Finally, the method was also applied in the screening of a much more complex sample matrix, indoor dust.

An extensive study has been conducted of the prevalence of organophosphorous flame retardants/plasticizers and phthalate ester plasticizers in indoor air. The targeted substances were measured in 45 multi-storey apartment buildings in Stockholm, Sweden. The apartment buildings were classified as high or low risk with regard to the reporting of sick building symptoms (SBS) within the project Healthy Sustainable Houses in Stockholm (3H). Air samples were taken from two to four apartments per building (in total 169 apartments) to facilitate comparison within and between buildings. Association with building characteristics have been examined as well as association with specific sources by combining chemical analysis and exploratory uni- and multivariate data analysis. The study contributes to the overall perspective of levels of organophosphate and phthalate ester in indoor air enabling comparison with other studies. The results indicated little or no difference in the concentrations of the target substances between the two risk classifications of the buildings. The differences between the apartments sampled within (inter) buildings were greater than the differences between (intra) buildings. The concentrations measured in air ranged up to 1,200 ng/m³ for organophosphate esters and up to 11,000 ng/m³ for phthalate esters. Results in terms of sources were discerned e.g. PVC flooring is a major source of benzylbutyl phthalate in indoor air.    

A method has been developed for analysis of the highly potent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carcinogens dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene and dibenzo(a,i)pyrene (molecular weight 302) present in small amounts in diesel and air particulate materials. The method can also be used for analysis of the PAH benzo(a)pyrene, coronene and perylene, for which reference and certified values are available for the Standard Reference Materials used for validation of the method: SRM 1649a (Urban dust) and SRM 2975 (Diesel particulate matter). The only NIST values that have been published for these dibenzopyrene isomers in the analyzed SRMs are reference values for dibenzo(a,i)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)pyrene in SRM 1649a. The concentrations determined in the SRMs were in good agreement with reported NIST-certified and reference values and other concentrations reported in the literature. The Standard Reference Material 1650 (Diesel particulate matter) was also analyzed. The method could not, however, be validated using this material because certification of SRM 1650 had expired. The method is based on ultrasonically-assisted extraction of the particulate material, then silica SPE pre-separation and isolation, and, separation and detection by hyphenated LC-GC-MS. The method is relatively rapid and requires only approximately 1-5 mg SRM particulate material to identify and quantify the analytes. Low extraction recoveries for the analytes, in particular the dibenzopyrenes, when extracting diesel SRMs 2975 and 1650 resulted, however, in the dibenzopyrenes being present in amounts near their limit of quantifications in these samples. The method’s limit of quantification (LOQ), based on analyses of SRM 1649a, is in the range of 10-77 pg. By use of this method more than 25 potential PAH isomers with a molecular weight of 302 could be separated.

Air pollution with particulate matter (PM) raises considerable concern because of its adverse effects on human health. For this reason, and because the mechanisms of PM toxicity are not fully known, there is an urgent need to determine the chemical constituents of atmospheric PM, especially PM emanating from traffic - a major source of urban PM.

This thesis describes analytical methods that have been developed for determining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air and vehicle exhaust PM, focusing particularly on benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and the dibenzopyrenes: dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, dibenzo(a,i)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)pyrene. Trace amounts in complex matrices have been met by coupling parts or the entire clean-up step using liquid chromatography on-line with the analysis step using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry into one automated system.

Application of the methodology, using either ultrasonic assisted extraction (USE) or accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) urban air standard reference material (SRM) yielded comparable or higher concentrations than the assigned NIST values, validating the approach. However, ASE provided higher extraction yields from diesel particulate SRMs than USE, and ASE of diesel SRMs generally yielded higher concentrations than the corresponding NIST values.

Concentrations of dibenzopyrenes in Stockholm air PM, and gasoline- and diesel-fuelled vehicle emissions (ng/km), are reported for the first time. When adjusted in terms of their relative carcinogenic potencies, the dibenzopyrenes were found to pose greater carcinogenic hazards than B(a)P, indicating that the current use of B(a)P as a marker probably leads to underestimates of the carcinogenicity of PAHs in ambient air.

The developed methods also worked well for analyzing larger molecular weight PAHs: more than 60 and 170 potential PAHs were detected in ambient air PM and diesel PM, respectively.

Emission factors of particulate-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo(a)pyrene and, for the first time, the highly carcinogenic dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, dibenzo(a,i)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)pyrene have been determined in exhausts from two diesel- (DFVs) and two gasoline-fuelled light-duty vehicles (GFVs) operated in the Urban (AU), Rural Road (AR) and Motorway (AM) transient ARTEMIS driving cycles. The obtained results showed the DFVs to emit higher amounts of PAHs than the GFVs per km driving distance at low average speed in the AU driving cycle, while the GFVs emitted higher amounts of PAHs than the DFVs per km driving distance at higher average speeds in the AR and AM driving cycles. Furthermore, the study showed an increase in PAH emissions per km driving distance with increasing average speed for the GFVs with the opposite trend found for the DFVs. The GFVs generated particulate matter with higher PAH content than the DFVs in all three driving cycles tested with the highest concentrations obtained in the AR driving cycle. Dibenzo(a,l)pyrene was found to be a major contributor to the potential carcinogenicity accounting for 58–67% and 25–31% of the sum added potential carcinogenicity of the measured PAHs in the emitted particulate matter from the DFVs and GFVs, respectively. Corresponding values for benzo(a)pyrene were 16–25% and 11–40% for the DFVs and GFVs, respectively. The DFVs displayed higher sum added potential carcinogenicity of the measured PAHs than the GFVs in the AU driving cycle with the opposite trend found in the AR and AM driving cycles. The findings of this study show the importance of including the dibenzopyrenes in vehicle exhaust chemical characterizations to avoid potential underestimation of the carcinogenic activity of the emissions. The lower emissions and the lower sum added potential carcinogenicity of the measured PAHs found in this study for the GFVs compared to the DFVs in the AU driving cycle indicate the GFVs to be preferred in dense urban areas with traffic moving at low average speeds with multiple start and stops. However, the obtained results suggest the opposite to be true at higher average speeds with driving at rural roads and motorways. Further studies are, however, needed to establish if the observed differences between GFVs and DFVs are generally valid as well as to study the effects on variations in vehicle/engine type, ambient temperature, fuel and driving conditions on the emission factors.