title: The trace analysis of alkyl alkylphosphonic acids in urine using gas chromatography-ion trap negative ion tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: A sensitive method has been developed for the trace analysis of alkyl alkylphosphonic acids, metabolites of nerve agents, in urine using a benchtop ion trap mass spectrometer. The acids were isolated from urine by simple solid phase extraction and converted to their pentafluorobenzyl esters. An ion trap mass spectrometer in selected reaction monitoring mode provided limits of detection of 0.1 ng/ml for isopropyl, isobutyl, pinacolyl and cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acids and for ethyl ethylphosphonic acid. The detection limit for ethyl methylphosphonic acid was higher (0.5 ng/ml) due to a lower recovery.
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 OJQ, UK. jriches@dstl.gov.uk
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riches
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000652:urine*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012999:Soman / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D012999:Soman