Silicone Wristbands as Passive Environmental Sampling Devices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a Scoping Review of the Evidence.

introductionEnvironmental exposures have been linked to numerous health conditions. Personal sampling devices such as silicone wristbands have been deployed to better characterize these exposures. Few studies have investigated the use of silicone wristbands in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding silicone wristbands in these settings is important since they have the potential to overcome certain logistical and cultural barriers that make biospecimen collection challenging. Thus, this scoping review aims to assess these studies by highlighting population, feasibility, accessibility, and ease of use.

methodsWe searched five databases for the term "silicone wristband," resulting in 265 records. We included studies if they employed silicone wristbands as a passive sampling device and included samples from LMICs. After an abstract and full-text screening, we included 17 studies in this review.

resultsThe studies included data from 10 LMICs that span three continents (Africa, South America, and Asia) and represent several occupations and diverse communities, both adult and pediatric. As measured through response rate, the use of silicone wristbands as passive sampling devices was widely accepted by participants.

conclusionSilicone wristbands are a suitable and effective passive sampling device in LMICs. They are easily deployed, minimally invasive, and stable in travel. Employing a standardized approach to data collection and analysis may be useful for further comparability in future studies.