Monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in human urine: Extraction and purification with a sol-gel glass immunosorbent

A new, rapid method for selective extraction of hydroxylated polycyclic aro matic hydrocarbons metabolites (OH-PAHs) in human urine was developed using an immunosorbent of anti-pyrene antibodies which were encapsulated in a so l-gel glass (SGG) matrix. Resulting chromatograms after immunoextraction of urine samples and HPLC analysis of the extracts were free from matrix inte rferences. The LODs for the determination of OH-PAHs in these difficult sam ples were in the low-ppt range (1-16 ng/L). In addition to its high selecti vity, the immunosorbent proved to be robust and reusable. Obtained recoveri es in spiked urine samples ranged from 83 to 107% for the hydroxyphenanthre ne and hydroxypyrene compounds under investigation, while recovery for 3-hy droxybenzo[a]pyrene was only 45-62%. In a biomonitoring study, the SGG immu nosorbent was successfully used for trace-level analysis of OH-PAHs in 20 h uman urine samples. Results were compared to data obtained by an independen t reference analysis method and revealed good correlation between both meth ods.