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METHODS DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION FOR ASSESSING LEVEL OF NATIVE PESTICIDES, PCBS, PAHS, AND VOCS IN HUMAN BLOOD
Citation:
Liu, S. AND J D. Pleil. METHODS DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION FOR ASSESSING LEVEL OF NATIVE PESTICIDES, PCBS, PAHS, AND VOCS IN HUMAN BLOOD. Presented at American Chemical Society, Orlando, FL, April 7-11, 2002.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this task is to develop state-of-the-art methods for measuring xenobiotic compounds, to include the isolation of the analyte from the appropriate matrix (extraction), preconcentration (typically sorbent-based), and analysis via GC/MS and/or LC/MS. Once established, these methods will be applied in small scale pilot studies or demonstration projects. Particular emphasis will be placed on methods which are readily transferable to other laboratories, including those within the Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD), the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), other EPA Laboratories, Program Offices, Regions, and academic institutions.
Specific objectives of this task include the following:
1) Development of GC/MS and LC/MS methods for the measurement of key xenobiotic compounds and their metabolites (to include the pyrethroid pesticides, perfluorinated organic compounds, and the BFRs) in relevant environmental and biological matrices.
2) Development of efficient low cost methods for the extraction and clean up of these compounds collected from relevant matrices.
3) Determination of xenobiotic compound and metabolite concentrations in samples derived from laboratory and field monitoring studies to help assess exposures and evaluate associated risks.
Description:
Methods have been developed for screening and assessing the level of volatile, semi-volatile and non-volatile organic pollutants in human blood. The specific methodology is developed for measuring the presence of "native" compounds rather than their metabolites. Specifically, we chose a variety of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons for investigation. This work is based on previously developed methods for semi-volatile hydrocarbon exposure from fuels usage and similarly employs liquid solvent extraction, evaporative volume reduction, and subsequent specialized gas chromatography - mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). The method is demonstrated for some commonly used pesticides on anonymous Red Cross blood specimens as well as for real-world blood samples from recent epidemiological studies of human subjects exposed to hydrocarbon based fuels. Details on recovery efficiencies, comparison on the level of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood among non-, pre- and post-exposures as well as correlations between blood and breath levels of some selected compounds are presented. The method provides access to data that is complementary to metabolic biomarker measurements that are typically made in the urine matrix, and also fills the data gap for circulating blood levels required to assess target organ dose through pharmacokinetic modeling.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation; it has been reviewed in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's review process and approved for publication. This work was funded by the National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through Contract 68-D-00-206 with ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. Mention of tradenames or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.