Quantitation of biomarkers of exposure to nitrogen mustards in urine from rats dosed with nitrogen mustards and from an unexposed human population

J Anal Toxicol. 2004 Jul-Aug;28(5):320-6. doi: 10.1093/jat/28.5.320.

Abstract

The nitrogen mustards bis(2-chloroethyl)ethylamine (HN1), bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2), and tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3) have the potential to be used as chemical terrorism agents because of their extreme vesicant properties. We modified a previously reported method to incorporate automated solid-phase extraction, improve chromatography, and include the urinary metabolite for HN3. The improved method was used to measure levels of the urinary metabolites N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) in rats dosed with HN1, HN2, and HN3, respectively, and to establish background levels of EDEA, MDEA, and TEA in human urine samples from a population with no known exposure to nitrogen mustards. Rat dosing experiments confirmed that EDEA, MDEA, and TEA could be detected in urine for at least 48 h after exposure to HN1, HN2, and HN3, respectively. Substantial amounts of EDEA (89 ng/mL), MDEA (170 ng/mL), and TEA (1105 ng/mL) were measured in the urine of rats exposed to 10 mg HN1, HN2, and HN3, respectively, 48 h after exposure. The background concentrations for TEA in the human population ranged from below the limit of detection (LOD 3 ng/mL) to approximately 6500 ng/mL. Neither EDEA (LOD 0.4 ng/mL) nor MDEA (LOD 0.8 ng/mL) was detected above the LOD in the human samples.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / poisoning
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Environmental Exposure* / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mechlorethamine / analysis
  • Mechlorethamine / pharmacokinetics*
  • Mechlorethamine / poisoning
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reference Values
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Urinalysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Mechlorethamine