Quantitative determination of the hydrolysis products of nitrogen mustards in human urine by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

J Anal Toxicol. 2003 Jan-Feb;27(1):1-6. doi: 10.1093/jat/27.1.1.

Abstract

Nitrogen mustards are a public health concern because of their extreme vesicant properties and the possible exposure of workers during the destruction of chemical stockpiles. A sensitive, rapid, accurate, and precise analysis for the quantitation of ultratrace levels of N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA) and N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) in human urine as a means of assessing recent exposure to the nitrogen mustards bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine and bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine, respectively, was developed. The method was based on solid-phase extraction, followed by analysis of the urine extract using isotope-dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with TurbolonSpray ionization and multiple-reaction monitoring. The method limits of detection were 0.41 ng/mL for EDEA and 0.96 ng/mL for MDEA in 1 mL of urine with coefficients of variation < 10% for both compounds.

MeSH terms

  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Mechlorethamine / analysis
  • Mechlorethamine / urine*
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / analysis
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / urine*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds
  • Mechlorethamine
  • bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine