title: Quantitative determination of nine urinary metabolites of organophosphate flame retardants using solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).
abstract: Over the last few years, the use of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) has been on the rise; however, there are knowledge gaps in both the human health effects of OPFRs and levels of human exposure. Currently, human biomonitoring data on the levels of OPFR metabolites in the Canadian population are still non-existent. Herein we describe a novel method to measure nine urinary OPFR metabolites using solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The method detection limits were between 0.08 and 0.25ng/mL for target metabolites. The newly developed and validated method was applied to the analysis of 24 urine samples collected in 2010-12 from pregnant Canadian women. The most frequently detected OPFR metabolite in urine of study participants (detection frequency: 97%) was diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), with concentrations ranging between <0.13-25.2ng/mL, followed (75%) by the sum of two metabolites (DoCP: Di-o-cresyl phosphate and DpCP: Di-p- cresyl phosphate) of tricresyl phosphate, with concentrations between <0.13-4.38ng/mL. With the exception of desbutyl-tris-(2-butoxy-ethyl) phosphate which was not detected in any of the samples, all other OPFR metabolites measured were found among study participants with variable detection frequency, suggesting pregnant Canadian women may be exposed to OPFRs.
authors: Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Kosarac
authors: Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: Cariton.Kubwabo@canada.ca.
authors: Cariton
authors: C
authors: Kubwabo
authors: McMaster University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamilton, ON L8 N 3Z5, Canada.
authors: Warren G
authors: WG
authors: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008875:Middle Aged; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D010755:Organophosphates
keywords: MS/MS; Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs); Pregnant women; UPLC-; Urinary metabolites