Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 30, Issue 5, June 2006, pp.306-312

Measurement of Benzylmercapturic Acid in Human Urine by Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry
Jui-Shu Chou[1], Yi-Chang Lin[2,3], Yee-Chung Ma[2], Jenn-Feng Sheen[4], and Tung-Sheng Shih[1]
[1]Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan, Taiwan;
[2]Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan;
[3]General Education Center, Toko University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC; and
[4]Department of Chemistry, National Hsinchu University of Education, Hsinchu, Taiwan

A method based on liquid chromatography (reversed-phase)–electrospray (negative) ionization-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry [LC–ESI(–)-MS–MS], in the multiple reaction monitoring mode, was developed for determination of urinary benzylmercapturic acid (BMA). Isotope dilution through introduction of 13C6-labeled BMA was employed as an internal standard, achieving intra- and interrun precision ranges of 2.32–2.95% and 2.24–4.97%, respectively. The calibration curve obtained with BMA-spiked blank human urine was linear from 0.5–120.0 µg/L; the correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.999. The method limit of quantification was 0.5 µg/L; mean BMA recovery was 97.56%. The analytical method was used to analyze urine samples collected from workers involved in the manufacture of adhesive tape who had been exposed to toluene. The method appears to provide sensitive, specific, and reliable testing for urinary BMA to determine occupational exposure to toluene.

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