Solid-phase microextraction set-up for the analysis of liver volatolome to detect livestock exposure to micropollutants ☆

Abstract Starting from a critical analysis of a first “proof of concept” study on the utility of the liver volatolome for detecting livestock exposure to environmental micropollutants (Berge et al., 2011), the primary aim of this paper is to improve extraction conditions so as to obtain more representative extracts by using an extraction temperature closer to livestock physiological conditions while minimizing analytical variability and maximizing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) abundancies. Levers related to extraction conditions and sample preparation were assessed in the light of both abundance and coefficient of variation of 22 candidate VOC markers identified in earlier volatolomic studies. Starting with a CAR/PDMS fiber and a 30 min extraction, the reduction of SPME temperature to 40 °C resulted in a significant decrease in the area of 14 candidate VOC markers (p