Urine analysis of patients exposed to phenylarsenic compounds via accidental pollution

New methods involving high-performance liquid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were examined for the determination of phenylarsenic compounds derived from chemical warfare agents. Several methods were examined for the separation of diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA), phenylarsonic acid, phenylmethylarsinic acid (PMAA), phenyldimethylarsine oxide, and diphenylmethylarsine oxide. Analysis of the urine samples of the patients exposed to phenylarsenic compounds indicated that the main phenylarsenic components were DPAA and PMAA; moreover, some unknown arsenicals, which were also found in contaminated groundwater and rice samples, were also detected.