title: Quantification of 13 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental pollutants in both living and working environments. The aim of this study was the development of a headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-IDMS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 13 PAHs in urine samples. Different parameters affecting PAHs extraction by HS-SPME were considered and optimized: type/thickness of fiber coatings, extraction temperature/time, desorption temperature/time, ionic strength and sample agitation. The stability of spiked PAHs solutions and of real urine samples stored up to 90 days in containers of different materials was evaluated. In the optimized method, analytes were absorbed for 60min at 80 degrees C in the sample headspace with a 100mum polydimethylsiloxane fiber. The method is very specific, with linear range from the limit of quantification to 8.67 x 10(3)ngL(-1), a within-run precision of <20% and a between-run precision of <20% for 2-, 3- and 4-ring compounds and of <30% for 5-ring compounds, trueness within 20% of the spiked concentration, and limit of quantification in the 2.28-2.28 x 10(1)ngL(-1) range. An application of the proposed method using 15 urine samples from subjects exposed to PAHs at different environmental levels is shown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercadante
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossella
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fustinoni
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007554:Isotopes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012492:Salts; D003903:Deuterium