title: Improved methodology for the detection and quantitation of urinary metabolites of sulphur mustard using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) with selected-reaction monitoring was applied to the analysis of urinary metabolites of sulphur mustard, derived from the beta-lyase pathway and from hydrolysis. In the case of beta-lyase metabolites, a limit of detection of 0.1 ng/ml was obtained, compared to 2-5 ng/ml using single stage GC-MS with selected-ion monitoring. GC-MS-MS methodology was less useful when applied to the analysis of thiodiglycol bis(pentafluorobenzoate) using negative-ion chemical ionisation although selected-reaction chromatograms were cleaner than selected-ion chromatograms. The advantage of using GC-MS-MS was demonstrated by the detection of low levels of beta-lyase metabolites in the urine of casualties who had been exposed to sulphur mustard.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008190:Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D011041:Poisoning / Q000652:urine; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013454:Sulfoxides; C073450:2,2'-sulfinylbisethanol; C047519:2,2'-thiodiethanol; D008190:Lyases; D009151:Mustard Gas