Monitoring chloramines and bromamines in a humid environment using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

The selectivity and sensitivity of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) for individual breath analysis of haloamines has been improved by heating the flow tube in a commercial instrument to around 106 degrees C. Data is presented showing the marked reduction in the number density of water clusters of product ions of common breath metabolites that are isobaric with the product ions from monochloramine and monobromamine that are used to monitor the haloamine concentrations. These results have direct relevance to the real-time monitoring of chloramines in drinking water, swimming pools and food processing plants. However, once the isobaric overlaps from water cluster ions are reduced at the higher temperatures, there is no conclusive evidence showing the presence of haloamines on single breath exhalations in the mid parts per trillion range from examination of the breaths of volunteers. Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.