Simple analysis of arylamide herbicides in serum using headspace-solid phase microextraction and GC/MS

A simple and sensitive method for analysis of four arylamide herbicides (bu tachlor, propanil, diphenamide and propyzamide) in serum was developed usin g a headspace-solid phase microextraction (SPME) and a gas chromatograph-ma ss spectrometer (GC-MS). A vial containing a serum sample and sodium chlori de was heated at 90 degrees C. The extraction fiber of the SPME was exposed for 45 min in the headspace of the vial. The compounds adsorbed on the fib er were desorbed by exposing the fiber in the injection port of the GC-MS. The calibration curves, using an internal standard method, demonstrated goo d Linearity throughout the concentration range from 0.25 to 10.0 mu g/ml. P ropyzamide was used for an internal standard. The limit of detection was 0. 10, 0.05, and 0.25 mu g/ml for butachlor, diphenamide, and propanil, respec tively. No interferences were found, and the time for analysis was 60 min f or one sample. In addition, this proposed method was applied to a suicide c ase in which the patient ingested Kusanon A(R), a herbicide. Propanil, whic h was the main ingredient in the herbicide, was detected in the eight serum samples collected from the patient during the hospitalization at the conce ntration range from 26.7 to 1.1 mu g/ml. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.