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An analysis of volatiles in the headspace of the faeces of neonates

Ewen, R.; de Lacy Costello, Ben; Ratcliffe, Norman M.; Ewer, A. K.; Smith, Stephen; Garner, C. E.; Probert, C. S.J.

Authors

R. Ewen

A. K. Ewer

Stephen Smith

C. E. Garner

C. S.J. Probert



Abstract

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the headspace from the faeces of neonates was undertaken to record the volatiles associated with preterm babies on a neonatal unit. The compounds ethanol, acetone, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 3-methylbutanal, hexanal and 2,3-butanedione occurred with the highest frequency. The volatiles analysed were then compared to a previously published study of the volatiles from asymptomatic adult faeces. Fewer compounds were found in the neonatal faeces and virtually no sulfides were detected, in contrast to the adult samples where carbon disulfide, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl sulfide were ubiquitous. In addition, 7 of the most abundant 15 volatile compounds were found to be aldehydes, while in contrast only 2, acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde, were present in the most abundant 15 compounds found in the headspace of adult faeces. 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol was considerably more abundant in the neonate stool compared to adult stool, and probably reflects high exposure to plastic materials containing plasticizers. The potential of disease diagnoses from the analysis of volatiles emitted from neonate faeces is discussed. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Citation

Ewen, R., de Lacy Costello, B., Ewer, A. K., Garner, C. E., Probert, C. S., Ratcliffe, N. M., & Smith, S. (2008). An analysis of volatiles in the headspace of the faeces of neonates. Journal of Breath Research, 2(3), 037023. https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7155/2/3/037023

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 1, 2008
Journal Journal of Breath Research
Print ISSN 1752-7155
Electronic ISSN 1752-7163
Publisher IOP Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 2
Issue 3
Pages 037023
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7155/2/3/037023
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1022893
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1752-7155/2/3/037023