APPLICATION OF SOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS IN URINE

This study investigated the feasibility of applying solid-phase microe xtraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze chlorophenols in urine. The SPME experimental procedures to e xtract chlorophenols in urine were optimized with a polar polyacrylate coated fiber at pH 1, extraction time for 50 min and desorption in GC injector at 290 degrees C for 2 min. The linearity was obtained with a precision below 10% R.S.D. for the studied chlorophenols in a wide r ange from 0.1 to 100 mu g/l. In addition, sample extraction by SPME wa s used to estimate the detection limits of chlorophenols in urine, wit h selected ion monitoring of GC-RIS operated in the electron impact mo de and negative chemical ionization mode. Detection limits were obtain ed at the low ng/l levels. The application of the methods to the deter mination of chlorophenols in real samples was tested by analyzing urin e samples of sawmill workers. The chlorophenols were found in workers, the urinary concentration ranging from 0.02 mu g/l (PCP) to 1.56 mu g /l (2,4-DCP) depending on chlorophenols. The results show that trace c hlorophenols have been detected with SPME-GC-MS in the workers of sawm ill where chlorophenol-containing anti-stain agents had been previousl y used. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.