Simple method for rapid measurement of trichloroethylene and its major metabolites in biological samples

A simple and rapid, yet sensitive technique was developed for concurrent me asurement of trichloroethylene (TCE) and its major metabolites (i.e., trich loroacetic acid, trichloroethanol and dichloroacetic acid) in blood and in solid tissues. The method involves addition of an esterizer (water, sulfuri c acid, methanol; 6:5:1; v/v/v) to blood or tissue homogenate in sealed via ls, and subsequent gas chromatographic headspace analysis. The procedure sh ould be useful in medical monitoring of TCE exposure as well as in experime ntal work, notably pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies pertaining t o TCE carcinogenesis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.