Química Nova (May 2021)

A SIMPLE AND SENSITIVE LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF S-PHENYLMERCAPTURIC ACID IN HUMAN URINE

  • Andressa Priscila Gomes,
  • Eduardo Barbosa,
  • Ana Laura Anibaletto dos Santos,
  • Lilian Feltraco Lizot,
  • Elisa Sauer,
  • Solange Cristina Garcia,
  • Rafael Linden,
  • Marina Venzon Antunes,
  • Mariele Feiffer Charao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.21577/0100-4042.20170651
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 3
pp. 334 – 340

Abstract

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Benzene is an important environmental and occupational pollutant, and recognized as human carcinogen. S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) is a highly specific biomarker of exposure to benzene, applied in occupational toxicology to assess low levels of benzene exposure. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a one-step liquid extraction bioanalytical method for the quantification of SPMA in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method was applied to the evaluation of benzene exposure in an occupational setting. The assay was linear from 0.5 to 500 ng mL-1 (r>0.99), accurate (91.4-105.2%) and precise, with CV% between 4.73 and 9.96%. SPMA was stable in urine for 90 days at -20 °C. Airborne benzene concentrations, urinary levels of SPMA and t,t-MA were significantly higher in gas station workers (n=30) in comparison to outdoor workers (n=14) and individuals non-occupationally exposed to benzene (n=34). Benzene airborne levels had higher correlation with urinary SPMA (r=0.532, p<0.001) than with t,t-MA (r=0.338, p=0.04), demonstrating the applicability of this biomarker for monitoring low levels of benzene exposure.

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