title: Simultaneous measurement of methyl tert-butyl ether and tert-butyl alcohol in human serum by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: The abundant production of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and its widespread use have led to an increase in the potential for human exposure. This work described a simple, fast, sensitive, reliable and low-cost method for the simultaneous measurement of MTBE and its metabolite, tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in human serum by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Extraction conditions were optimized and 40 °C, 10 min, 250 rpm and 0.3 g NaCl for a 1 mL sample were the optimal conditions. This method showed good analytical performance in terms of sensitivity with limits of detection in serum (1 mL) of 0.03 µg/L for MTBE and 0.05 µg/L for TBA, accuracy (mean recovery values) from 75.8% to 85.8%, precision (relative standard deviations) <10% and sample stability (biodegradation) <10% after 28 days. A verification experiment proved the reproducibility and stability of this method as well. Finally the method was used to detect 212 specimens, and the internal dose levels for MTBE in human serum were presented in China.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yanru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Hongfang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yukang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahu West Road, 430065, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Health Research, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Yuancun West Road, 510655, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002681:China; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008738:Methyl Ethers; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol
keywords: GC-MS; SPME; methyl tert-butyl ether; serum; tert-butyl alcohol