Multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) methodology applied to the determination of volatile metabolites of plasticizers in human urine

Abstract

In the present work, an optimization and validation of an analytical method for the determination of two plasticizer metabolites, 2-ethylhexanol and 4-heptanone in urine, were carried out by multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) coupled to GC-MS. The validation study was successfully performed in terms of stability, method selectivity, linearity, accuracy, recovery, intermediate precision, repeatability, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) in urine samples. Finally, two population group studies were developed in urine samples of volunteers with plastic exposure. First group represents the common plastic exposure of general population and the second one was carried out with healthy moderately trained individuals who have received blood transfusion. This study demonstrates that significantly increased levels of 2-ethylhexanol were found (p < 0.05) in urine samples of volunteers in the early hours after receiving blood transfusion.