A urinary assay for methoxyphenols was developed for the biological monitoring of wood smoke exposure. METHODS AND RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS:
Preliminary field studies demonstrated that urinary excretion rates of some methoxyphenols increased after inhalation exposure to wood smoke. |