In vitro hydrolysis of methyl acetate, a limitation in application of head-space gas-chromatography in biological monitoring of exposure.
Stoichiometric conversion of methyl acetate to methanol in vitro was detected when methyl acetate was incubated with blood for 2 to 8 h. The velocity of the reaction was so fast that almost all of methyl acetate disappeared in 8 h. The methanol formation was further confirmed by means of gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The capacity to hydrolyze methyl acetate was evenly distributed in cellular and noncellular fractions of blood, but not in urine. The significance of the observation is discussed in relation to biological monitoring of exposure to industrial ester solvents by means of head-space gas-chromatography of blood samples.
Mizunuma
K
K
Osaka Occupational Health Service Center, Japan.
Kawai
T
T
Yasugi
T
T
Horiguchi
S
S
Iwami
O
O
Ikeda
M
M
D000085:Acetates / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism*
D000085:Acetates; C046923:methyl acetate; D000432:Methanol