Determination of endosulfan and its metabolites in human urine using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical sciences and applications Vol. 719; no. 1; pp. 71 - 78
• Main Authors: Martı́nez Vidal, J.L., Arrebola, F.J., Fernández-Gutiérrez, A., Rams, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20-11-1998
• Subjects: Calibration; Endosulfan; Endosulfan - urine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides - urine; Pesticides; Reference Standards; Sensitivity and Specificity; Endosulfan; Pesticides
• ISSN: 0378-4347; 1387-2273
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4347(98)00411-3

A method was developed for determining the occupational exposure to endosulfan and its main metabolites (endosulfan-ether, -lactone and -sulfate) in human urine using dieldrin as an internal standard. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS–MS) have been used due to their high sensitivity and selectivity in avoiding most matrix interferences. The recovery efficiencies of the tested compounds yielded more than 89.2 % at the fortification level of 10 ng ml
−1 in urine and their relative standard deviations were between 9.1 and 12.8 %. The detection limit of each compound ranged between 6 and 18 pg ml
−1. Urine samples from nine pest control operators were analysed and total endosulfan concentrations between 94 and 2038 pg ml
−1 were found.