OBJECTIVETo establish a GC/MS method for analysis of cotinine (COT), phenylglyoxylic acid (PA) and mandelic acid (MA) in human urine.

METHODSHuman urine samples were extracted by CCl(3) and derivatized with MSTFA after dried completely. The contents of COT, PA and MA were measured by GC/MS method with DB-5MS capillary column and EI ion-source.

RESULTThe calibration curves for COT in urine samples were linear over the concentration ranges of 0.0002 approximately 3.5 microg ml(-1), while PA and MA were both of 1.25 approximately 160 microg ml(-1). The limits of quantification were 0.0002 microg ml(-1), 1.25 microg ml(-1) and 1.25 microg ml(-1) for COT, PA and MA, respectively. The assay recoveries for COT, PA and MA ranged from 89.53% approximately 102.4%, 84.88% approximately 91.46% and 83.46% approximately 13.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe established method can detect cotinine, phenylglyoxylic acid and mandelic acid simultaneously, which would be used in routine assessment and monitoring of the internal exposure to nicotine and styrene in human body.

Cotinine ; urine ; Environmental Pollutants ; urine ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Glyoxylates ; urine ; Humans ; Mandelic Acids ; urine

OBJECTIVETo establish a GC/MS method for analysis of beta-estradiol (beta-E2), bisphenol A (BPA), diethylstilbestrol (DES) and salbutamol (SAL) in human urine.

METHODSHuman urine samples were extracted by cleanert PCX and cleanert PEP cartridges; and derivatized after dried completely. beta-E2, BPA, DES and SAL in the extracts were measured by GC/MS method with DB-5MS capillary column and EI ion-source.

RESULTThe calibration curves for beta-E2 in samples were linear over the concentration ranges of 1 approximately 300 ng ml(-1), for BPA were 1 approximately 200 ng ml(-1), for DES were 2 approximately 300 ng ml(-1) and for SAL were 0.01 approximately 1.2 microg ml(-1). The limits of detection were 0.15 ng ml(-1), 0.19 ng ml(-1), 0.23 ng ml(-1) and 1.0 ng ml(-1)for beta-E2, BPA, DES and SAL, respectively. The assay recoveries for beta-E2, BPA, DES and SAL ranged from 93.4 % approximately 110.5 %, 84.7 % approximately 104.9 %, 87.0 % approximately 105.4 % and 81.8 % approximately 96.8 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe established GC/MS method can detect beta-E2, BPA, DES and SAL in urine samples simultaneously, which can be used in routine assessment and monitoring of beta-E2, BPA, DES and SAL in human body.

Albuterol ; urine ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Diethylstilbestrol ; urine ; Environmental Pollutants ; urine ; Estradiol ; urine ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Phenols ; urine

BACKGROUND: Low-dose exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides during pregnancy may adversely affect neurodevelopment in children. To evaluate the OP exposure levels, single urine sampling is commonly adopted to measure the levels of dialkylphosphates (DAPs), common OP metabolites. However, the inter-day variations of urinary DAP concentrations within subjects are supposed to be large due to the short biological half-lives of the metabolites, and it is thus considered difficult to accurately assess OP exposure during pregnancy with single sampling. This study aimed to assess intra-individual variations of DAP concentrations and the reproducibility of the exposure dose categorization of OPs according to DAP concentration ranges in pregnant women in Japan. METHODS: Urine samples were collected from 62 non-smoking pregnant women (12-22 weeks of gestation) living in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. First morning void (FMV) and spot urine samples taken between lunch and dinner on the same day were collected on five different days during 2 weeks. The concentrations of DAP and creatinine in urine samples were measured using an ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Creatinine-adjusted and unadjusted concentrations were used for the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculations and surrogate category analyses. RESULTS: For all DAP metabolites, the creatinine-adjusted single ICCs exceeded 0.4, indicating moderate reliability. Overall, ICCs of spot urine samples taken in the afternoon were better than those taken as FMV. Surrogate category analyses showed that participants were categorized accurately into four exposure dose groups according to the quartile points. CONCLUSION This study indicated that a single urine sample taken in the afternoon may be useful in assessing OP exposure as long as the exposure is categorized into quartiles when conducting epidemiological studies in early to mid-pregnant women in Japan.
Adult ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Creatinine ; urine ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Environmental Pollutants ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Mass Spectrometry ; Organophosphates ; urine ; Pesticides ; urine ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features of mild chronic cadmium poisoning induced by different causes.

METHODSA total of 90 patients with mild chronic cadmium poisoning, who were hospitalized in our center from 2008 to 2011 and had complete clinical data, were divided into two groups according to the causes of poisoning: environmental pollution group (n = 45) and occupational poisoning group (n = 45). The clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory indices, and treatment outcomes of all patients were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the environmental pollution group, the occupational poisoning group had more bone pain, less bone injury (based on imaging findings), and significantly increased abnormal rate of urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in urinary β-2 microglobulin (MG) and urinary microalbumin between the two groups (P > 0.05). Urinary cadmium, urinary RBP, and urinary β-2 MG had no linear correlation between each other in the two groups. Both groups showed significant changes in urinary cadmium levels after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical features of mild chronic cadmium poisoning induced by various causes are different, and active nutritional support therapy plays a positive role in improving prognosis.

Cadmium ; urine ; Cadmium Poisoning ; therapy ; urine ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; urine ; Humans ; Nutritional Support ; Occupational Exposure ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo detect common environmental pollutants in human body.

METHODSUrine samples were collected from 80 healthy subjects. Chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), HPLC and ELISA were applied to detect several common environmental pollutants in urine samples.

RESULTSDBP and methylbenzene were present in 75.3% and 41.2% of urine samples. The methanal and AFM1 were found in most of urine samples (approximately 91≊97%). By contrast, PCBs, CPZ, 4, 5-DCC were found in less than 5 samples, but there was no TMT detected.

CONCLUSIONSome of the environmental pollutants including carcinogens are detected in urine samples in this study.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; urine ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: In health examinations for local inhabitants in cadmium-polluted areas, only healthy people are investigated, suggesting that patients with severe cadmium nephropathy or itai-itai disease may be overlooked. Therefore, we performed hospital-based screening to detect patients with cadmium nephropathy in two core medical institutes in cadmium-polluted areas in Akita prefecture, Japan. METHODS: Subjects for this screening were selected from patients aged 60 years or older with elevated serum creatinine levels and no definite renal diseases. We enrolled 35 subjects from a hospital in Odate city and 22 from a clinic in Kosaka town. Urinary ß-microglobulin and blood and urinary cadmium levels were measured. RESULTS: The criteria for renal tubular dysfunction and the over-accumulation of cadmium were set as a urinary ß-microglobulin level higher than 10,000 μg/g cr. and a blood cadmium level higher than 6 μg/L or urinary cadmium level higher than 10 μg/g cr., respectively. Subjects who fulfilled both criteria were diagnosed with cadmium nephropathy. Six out of 57 patients (10.5% of all subjects) had cadmium nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: This hospital-based screening is a very effective strategy for detecting patients with cadmium nephropathy in cadmium-polluted areas, playing a complementary role in health examinations for local inhabitants. REGISTRATION NUMBER No. 6, date of registration: 6 June, 2010 (Akita Rosai Hospital), and No. 1117, date of registration: 26 December, 2013 (Akita University).
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadmium ; adverse effects ; urine ; Cadmium Poisoning ; blood ; complications ; urine ; Creatinine ; urine ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollutants ; adverse effects ; urine ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Japan ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution

To investigate potential health risks associated with exposure to metals from an abandoned metal mine, the authors studied people living near an abandoned mine (n=102) and control groups (n=149). Levels of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc were measured in the air, soil, drinking water, and agricultural products. To assess individual exposure, biomarkers of each metal in blood and urine were measured. beta2-microglobulin, alpha1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and bone mineral density were measured. Surface soil in the study area showed 2-10 times higher levels of metals compared to that of the control area. Metal concentrations in the groundwater and air did not show any notable differences between groups. Mean concentrations of cadmium and copper in rice and barley from the study area were significantly higher than those of the control area (p<0.05). Geometric means of blood and urine cadmium in the study area were 2.9 microgram/L and 1.5 microgram/g Cr, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of urinary markers of early kidney dysfunction and bone mineral density. The authors conclude that the residents near the abandoned mine were exposed to higher levels of metals through various routes.
Aged ; Cadmium/*blood/*urine ; Copper/blood/urine ; Environmental Exposure ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; *Food Contamination ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Korea ; Lead/blood/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mining ; Oryza sativa ; Risk Factors ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Zinc/blood/urine

Case reports of indium-related lung disease in workers have raised public concern to the human toxicity of indium (In) and its compounds. However, studies evaluating the exposure or health of workers in In smelting plants are rare. Therefore, in this study, we focused on four In smelting plants, with the main objective of characterizing In in smelter plants in China and discussing the potential exposure biomarkers of In exposure. We recruited 494 subjectsat four In smelting plants in China. Personal air samples, first morning urine and spot blood samples were collected. In concentrations in samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In concentrations in air samples did not exceed the permissible concentration-time weighed average, but the smelter workers had a higher internal exposure to In. Positive correlations were observed between the air In and urine In concentrations, and between the air In and blood In concentrations. This study provides basic data for the following In exposure and health risk assessment.
Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; blood ; urine ; Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Indium ; blood ; urine ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify suitable hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) for co-evaluation of internal exposure level of PAHs by simultaneous determination of a variety of OH-PAHs in urine.

METHODSThe 24-h individual particulate matter and morning urine samples of 112 subjects were collected during June 2011. PAHs carried by individual particulate matter samples and OH-PAHs in urine samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSSeven OH-PAHs were detected in urine samples, among which 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) concentration was the highest [(20.54 ± 28.94) µmol/mol Cr], while 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) concentration was the lowest [(0.73 ± 0.63) µmol/mol Cr]. The concentrations of these seven OH-PAHs decreased in the following order: 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) > 9-hydroxy-fluorene (9-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-naphthalene (2-OHNap) > 3-hydroxy-fluorene (3-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-fluorene (2-OHFlu) > 6-hydroxy-chrysene (6-OHChr) > 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP). The effects of gender and smoking upon the contents of OH-PAHs in urine samples were not significant. There was a good correlation between total hydroxy-naphthalene (ΣOHNap) and 1-OHNap (r = 0.948), and a good correlation was also showed between total hydroxy-fluorene (ΣOHFlu) and 9-OHFlu (r = 0.975). Naphthalene carried by atmospheric particulate matters demonstrated better correlation with 1-OHNap than 2-OHNap, while fluorene carried by atmospheric particulate matters showed better correlation with 9-OHFlu than 3-OHFlu and 2-OHFlu. The correlation coefficients of ΣOHNap, ΣOHFlu and 6-OHChr with 1-OHP were 0.427, 0.543 and 0.655, respectively, and the correlations were not strong.

CONCLUSIONIt cannot reflect internal exposure level of PAHs to use 1-OHP as the only biomarker, while 1-OHNap and 9-OHFlu can be well predictive of the exposure levels of corresponding total OH-PAHs, suggesting that simultaneous determination of 1-OHNap, 9-OHFlu and 1-OHP can be more accurate and comprehensive in evaluating the internal exposure level of PAHs.

Aged ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; urine ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical ; analysis ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; urine

Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter. Urinary arsenic (As) level did not decrease according to the distance from the smelter, regardless of gender and working history in smelters and mines. However, in subjects who had no occupational exposure to toxic metals, blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and urinary Cd decreased according to the distance from the smelter, both in men and women. Additionally, the distance from the smelter was a determinant factor for a decrease of As, Pb, and Cd in multiple regression models, respectively. On the other hands, urinary Cd was a risk factor for renal tubular dysfunction in populations living near the smelter. These results suggest that Janghang copper smelter was a main contamination source of As, Pb, and Cd, and populations living near the smelter suffered some adverse health effects as a consequence. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize potential health effects, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenic/*urine ; Bone Density ; Cadmium/*blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemical Industry ; Creatinine/urine ; *Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis/blood/urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lead/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic