1: Environ Res 2001 Feb;85(2):145-58

Measurement of urinary methoxyphenols and their use for biological monitoring of
wood smoke exposure.

Dills RL, Zhu X, Kalman DA.

Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington 98195-7234, USA.

A urinary assay for methoxyphenols was developed for the biological monitoring
of wood smoke exposure. Methoxyphenols in 10-ml samples of urine were extracted
after acid hydrolysis using XAD in a solid-phase extraction cartridge. The
methoxyphenols were eluted with ethyl acetate and then analyzed by gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry. Specific chemicals quantified were guaiacol,
4-methylguaiacol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-propylguaiacol, syringol, 4-methylsyringol,
4-ethylsyringol, vanillin, eugenol, and syringaldehyde. Recoveries ranged from
60 to 90%, with coefficients of variation of < or =20%. Background levels of the
compounds were measured in 21 nonsmoking adults. Guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol,
eugenol, and vanillin were detected in all subjects. An experimental feeding of
a commercial wood smoke flavoring demonstrated that methoxyphenols were rapidly
and efficiently eliminated in urine. Preliminary field studies demonstrated that
urinary excretion rates of some methoxyphenols increased after inhalation
exposure to wood smoke. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

PMID: 11161664 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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