Simultaneous detection of trichloroethylene alcohol and acetate in rat urine by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

In order to better understand the cytotoxic effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) and its metabolites in TCE-induced carcinogenicity, it is necessary to determine the molecular species in biological samples. We have developed an efficient gas chromatography–mass spectrometry assay for the quantitative analysis of trichloroethylene alcohol and acetate. This method utilizes a simple esterification procedure, and a single liquid–liquid extraction with hexane–dichloromethane (1:1) that allows >90% recovery of the metabolites, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This protocol allows for the accurate, sensitive, and reproducible analysis of the toxic TCE metabolites. The utility of the assay is demonstrated through the analysis of TCE metabolites in urine from rats administered with TCE. The limit of quantitation (precision and accuracy<20%) was 1.7 ng/ml for TCE alcohol and 2.3 ng/ml for TCE acetate.