Determination of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) in human urine in a highly occupationally exposed German cohort: New prospects for urinary biomarkers of PCB exposure. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quinete, Natalia; Esser, André; Kraus, Thomas; Schettgen, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 97(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry -- Human urine -- Occupational exposure -- Polychlorinated biphenyl metabolism -- Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls -- Endocrine disruptor; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.08.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: The present study evaluates for the first time the determination of 20 hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyl (OH-PCB) congeners and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in urine as a biomarker of exposure to PCBs in humans. Thereby, a fast, sensitive and selective online solid phase extraction (SPE) method coupled to LC–MS/MS was validated for the determination of OH-PCBs in human urine, being previously successfully developed and applied for the separation and quantitation of OH-PCBs in human plasma. The lowest limit of quantification (LLOQ) ranged from 0.01 to 0.19 ng mL − 1 and average extraction recoveries from 79 to 125% for all hydroxylated congeners. Within-run precision and between-run precision were between 2 and 17%. Extraction recovery tests were also performed in urine with different creatinine contents (0.52–3.92 g L − 1 ) for an estimation of matrix influences and ranged between 69 and 125%. In order to evaluate the applicability of the method, the study was conducted in three different groups, which were distinctly separated as non-exposed to known sources of PCBs (N = 21), low-to-moderate PCB-exposed individuals (N = 25) and highly occupationally PCB-exposed individuals (N = 25), which included workers of a transformer recycling plant, their relatives and workers of surrounding companies from a German cohort. As part of the biomonitoring program HELPcB (Health Effects in High-Level Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls), urine and blood samples were collected annually from 2010 to 2014. In this way, OH-PCB elimination profile in urine over time, correlations between OH-PCB levels in human plasma and urine, and associations with their parent compounds in plasma of the studied PCB cohort could be also assessed. Tri-chlorinated OH-PCBs were the predominant congeners in urine with concentrations up to 174 ng mL − 1 . High chlorinated OH-PCBs (penta- through hepta-chlorinated OH-PCBs) were also frequently detected in urine samples from non-exposed and occupationally exposed individuals, although levels were in general very low or lower than LLOQ. Highlights: Determination of 20 OH-PCB congeners for the first time in human urine (N = 71) Validation of an online SPE–LC–MS/MS method with minimal sample preparation steps Urinary ∑ OH-PCBs correlate significantly with body burden of plasma ∑ PCBs and ∑ OH-PCBs. Tri-chlorinated 3-OH-CB28 was the predominant congeners in urine. Urinary OH-PCBs are suitable biomarker of exposure to lower chlorinated PCBs.