Sulphur derivative of hexachlorobenzene in human urine.
Pentachlorothiophenol, a sulphur derivative of the widespread environmental pollutant hexachlorobenzene (HCB) has been detected and quantified in the urine of a human general population with high body burden of HCB. The sulphur derivative was analysed by GLC-MS as pentachlorothioanisole (PCTA) after hydrolysis and methylation of the respective conjugate and was found in 100% of the samples (n = 40) with a mean concentration of 1.85 +/- 0.98 ng ml-1 (mean +/- s.d., range 0.58-4.50 ng ml-1). No correlation with urinary pentachlorophenol (PCP) and no sex-related differences were found. The derivative may originate from the biotransformation of HCB stored in tissues and may be a useful maker of HCB metabolism in humans.
Facultat de Medicina, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
To-Figueras
J
J
Gómez-Catalán
M
M
Rodamilans
J
J
Corbella
D001711:Biotransformation; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine*
D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; C014146:pentachlorothiophenol