Metabolomics is an emerging field that entails the detailed characterization of the ensemble of metabolites produced by living organisms; subfields include drug metabolism and natural environmental toxin production. The first part of the dissertation pursued metabolism of glyceollins, i.e., isoflavones produced by soybeans, that are potential cancer therapy agents. In vivo glyceollin metabolites produced in rats were investigated by on-line Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry. An odd-electron fragment ion at m/z 148, formed in violation of the even-electron rule, and diagnostic of the glyceollin backbone, was discovered. Based on this finding, a negative mode precursor ion scanning method was developed to screen for glyceollins and their metabolites from biological samples. Products of both Phase I and Phase II metabolism were identified, none of which have been previously reported. Sulfated metabolites were confirmed by accurate mass measurement, while glucuronide conjugation was confirmed by enzyme-assisted glucuronidation by rat liver microsomes. Intact GSH-glyceollin conjugates were not observed, but breakdown products of the GSH pathway, i.e., cysteinylglyceine, cysteine, and acetylated cysteine, were identified as conjugates of oxygenated glyceollins. The identification of GSH by-product conjugates was confirmed in product ion spectra acquired in the negative mode (where peptide anions, and glyceollin-bearing cleaved peptide portions were observed), as well as in the positive mode (where intact oxygenated glyceollin fragments appeared without the initially-present peptide portion). Mass spectral evidence strongly supports a metabolic pathway involving initial epoxidation of glyceollins followed by GSH addition at the epoxidation site. The second part of the dissertation undertook the investigation of secondary metabolites called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) produced by fungi (mold) that have been reported to have adverse human health effects. MVOCs were collected onto different sorbent materials and analyzed by Thermal Desorption Analysis coupled with on-line Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Fungal MVOCs were characterized from various simulated flooding conditions (brackish, freshwater, and saltwater) and different substrates (nutrient rich vs. low nutrient) to determine diagnostic MVOCs. Ten fungi from simulated environments were identified by genetic sequencing. Cladosporium sp. and Chaetomium sp. were cultivated and their emitted MVOCs, 3-furaldehyde and 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenal, were proposed as diagnostic indicators of these fungi.

Damp building materials are subjected to degradation processes due to moisture and also microbial growth, with both of these giving rise to emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may contribute to indoor air health problems. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate emissions of reactive and non-reactive VOCs from damp building materials and from the microorganisms growing on them, and also to investigate the possible health impact of these compounds. Three studies were carried out in order to study emissions of VOCs. The first investigated emissions from a mixture of five fungi (Aspergillus versicolor, Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Ulocladium botrytis and Wallemia sebi) and the second emissions from the bacterium Streptomyces albidoflavus. In both studies the microorganisms were cultivated on three different building materials (pine wood, particle board and gypsum board) and one synthetic media, MEA and TGEA respectively. The bacterium was also cultivated on sand. Air samples from the cultures were collected on six different adsorbents and chemosorbents to sample a wide range of compounds such as VOCs, aldehydes, amines and light-weight organic acids. The samples were analyzed with gas chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography and ion chromatography. Mass spectrometry was used for identification of the compounds. Alcohols and ketones were the predominant compound groups identified. The bacterial culture growing on TGEA emitted ammonia, methylamine, diethylamine and ethylamine. The third study dealt with secondary emissions collected from buildings with moisture and mould problems. Samples were taken when the materials were dry and also after they had been wet for a week. Most alcohols and ketones could be identified from the wet materials. Trimethylamine and triethylamine, were identified from sand contaminated by Bacillus. One study looked at the development of a method for analysis of primary and secondary amines with LC-MS/MS. A three-step process was developed, with the first step screening the samples for NIT derivatives with selected reaction monitoring, SRM. In the second step a precursor ion scan gave the [M+H]+ ion, and the last step involved fragmentation with a product ion scan. It was possible to separate and identify all the investigated amines, which showed that the method was both specific and selective and therefore well suited for the analysis of amines in complex environments. The last study comprised two exposure studies. In study 1 each participant took part in two exposure conditions, one with air from mouldy building materials and one with blank air for a 60 minute period. In study 2 each participant was exposed four times (for a period of 10 min) at random to air from mouldy building materials and blank air, with and without nose-clip. The participants rated air quality and symptoms before, during and after each exposure. Exposure to moderate VOC levels resulted in reports of perceived poor air quality, but no such results were received when exposing the participants to low VOC levels.

Les moisissures sont considérées comme un des facteurs affectant la qualité de l'air intérieur. L'exposition professionnelle aux moisissures peut affecter la santé des travailleurs. Selon l’espèce de moisissure, la dose d'exposition et la sensibilité individuelle, les effets peuvent être irritatifs, infectieux, immunologiques, toxiques ou cancérigènes. Les méthodes classiques, basées sur le bilan environnemental des moisissures cultivables dans l'air, souffrent d'inconvénients tels que le nombre élevé d'échantillons, les analyses coûteuses et la sous-estimation de l'exposition. La croissance des moisissures peut entraîner la production de métabolites, notamment des COVm. Ces derniers, lorsque inhalés, pourraient s’accumuler dans le corps et pourraient être détectés dans les matrices biologiques des travailleurs avant et après leur quart de travail. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est de développer une méthode permettant d’évaluer l'exposition aux moisissures en milieu de travail en exploitant les COVm comme biomarqueurs d'exposition. Le premier objectif spécifique est de développer une méthode analytique en utilisant la technique HS-SPME-CPG-SM/SM pour mesurer simultanément les 21 COVm dans le sang et l’urine. Le deuxième objectif est de développer une méthode analytique en se basant sur la technique DT-CPG-SM/SM pour analyser ces COVm dans l’air ambiant et exhalé. Le troisième objectif vise à optimiser la méthode développée dans l'air ambiant pour documenter les concentrations des COVm présents dans deux milieux de travail ayant des charges de moisissures différentes et évaluer leurs variations spatio-temporelles. Les 21 COVm sélectionnés dans cette thèse ont un potentiel comme biomarqueurs d’exposition aux moisissures. Leur sélection a été basée sur l’intérêt pour des effets sanitaires potentiels des espèces de moisissures, l’occurrence d’émission et les paramètres physicochimiques et pharmacocinétiques des COVm. Les paramètres d'extraction des COVm et les conditions analytiques ont été optimisés pour assurer une meilleure extraction et analyse des COVm dans le sang et l’urine. D’autre part, la méthode DT-CPG-SM/SM a été optimisée dans l’air ambiant et exhalé en testant plusieurs types d’adsorbant, débits et volumes d’air. Tenax TA/Carbograph a été sélectionné pour l’adsorption des COVm en échantillonnant 3 L d’air à 150 mL/min. Ces méthodes développées ont présenté de bonnes performances analytiques en termes de linéarité, précision, limites de détection et de quantification. Ceci a permis la quantification des COVm à faibles niveaux dans les matrices biologiques et l’air. Finalement, l’optimisation de l’analyse des prélèvements d’air d’un centre de tri des déchets et d’une université a été réalisée en utilisant la méthode DT-CPG-SM/SM. Un prélèvement de 2 heures a été sélectionné. Pour la majorité des COVm, aucune différence n’a été démontrée entre les périodes de la journée dans les milieux étudiés. À l’université, les concentrations des COVm étaient plus élevées dans les classes comparativement aux laboratoires munis d’un système de ventilation plus efficace. Au centre de tri, les concentrations des COVm étaient plus élevées dans la salle de pré-tri. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de sélectionner plusieurs COVm comme potentiels biomarqueurs d'exposition aux moisissures. Cette approche de biosurveillance pourrait donner un indice de la contamination fongique dans un milieu de travail, avant tout recours à l'approche classique, plus complexe et onéreuse. / Molds are one of the factors affecting indoor air quality. Occupational exposure to molds can have effects on workers' health. Depending on mold species, exposure dose and individual sensitivity, the health effects can be irritative, infectious, immunological, toxic, or carcinogenic. Conventional methods, based on the environmental assessment of cultivable molds in the air, have many drawbacks such as the high number of samples, the costly analyzes and the underestimation of exposure. Mold growth can lead to the production of metabolites, including mVOCs. The latter, when inhaled, could accumulate in the body, and could be detected in the biological matrices of workers before and after their shift. The main objective of this thesis is to develop a method to assess exposure to molds in the workplace by exploiting mVOCs as biomarkers of exposure. The first specific objective is to develop an analytical method using the HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS technique to simultaneously measure the 21 mVOCs in blood and urine. The second objective is to develop an analytical method based on the TD-GC-MS/MS technique to analyze these mVOCs in ambient and exhaled air. The third objective aims to optimize the method developed in ambient air to document the concentrations of mVOCs present in two workplaces with different mold loads and to assess their spatio-temporal variations. The 21 mVOCs selected in this thesis have potential as biomarkers of mold exposure. Their selection was based on the interest in potential health effects of the mold species, the occurrence of emission and their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of the mVOCs. Parameters influencing the extraction process and analytical conditions have been optimized to ensure better extraction and analysis of mVOCs in blood and urine. On the other hand, the TD-GC-MS/MS method has been optimized in ambient and exhaled air by testing several types of adsorbent and several flow rates and air volumes. Tenax TA/Carbograph was selected for mVOC adsorption by sampling 3 L of air at 150 mL/min. These developed methods exhibited good performance in terms of linearity, precision and detection and quantification limits. This allowed the quantification of mVOCs at relatively low levels in biological matrices and air. Finally, the optimization of mVOCs sampling from the air of a waste sorting centre and a university, was carried out using the TD-GC-MS/MS method. A sampling time of 2 hours was selected. For the majority of mVOCs, no difference was demonstrated between the periods of the day in the two environments studied. At university, the concentrations of mVOCs were higher in classrooms compared to laboratories equipped with a more efficient ventilation system. At the sorting centre, mVOCs’ concentrations were higher in the pre-sorting room. The results obtained made it possible to select several mVOCs as potential biomarkers of exposure to molds. This new biomonitoring approach could give an indication of fungal contamination in a workplace, before resorting to the traditional approach, which is more complex and expensive.