Human exposure to PAHs through silicone-based passive samplers: Methodological aspects and main findings

Silicone-based passive samplers have emerged as powerful tools for assessing dermal and inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across diverse environmental settings. Despite their increasing application, the nascent stage of this methodology and the absence of standardized protocols have led to varied monitoring approaches, resulting in fragmented and incomparable datasets. This document offers a detailed meta-analysis of silicone-based samplers for PAHs evaluation, synthesizing findings from 32 studies to elucidate common sampler configurations, study setups, sample treatment protocols, and PAH detection rates. We propose a set of comprehensive guidelines aiming to standardize analytical practices and study designs within the field. Among the critical areas for improvement identified, the adoption of unified quantitation units and mitigation strategies for potential analyte losses during sample treatment stand out. These recommendations will enhance the reliability and comparability of future research, paving the way for more accurate risk evaluations related to PAH exposure.