A method for quantitation of β-lyase metabolites of sulfur mustard (SM) adducts with glutathione has been developed and validated using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The linear range of quantitation was 0.1-1000ng/mL in urine with a method detection limit of 0.02ng/mL. The method was applied in a rabbit exposure model. Domestic rabbits were cutaneously exposed to neat liquid SM in three dosage levels, and the β-lyase metabolites in urine were determined as 1,1'-sulfonylbis[2-(methylthio)ethane] (SBMTE). The study showed that even though more than 99% of the total amount of β-lyase metabolites was excreted in the first week after exposure, the β-lyase metabolites of SM adducts with glutathione could be detected in urine from rabbits for up to 3 or 4 weeks after the SM cutaneous exposure. For high dosage group (15mg/kg, 0.15 LD50), the mean concentration of SBMTE detected was 0.32ng/mL on day 28. For middle (5mg/kg, 0.05 LD50) and low (2mg/kg, 0.02 LD50) dosage groups, the mean concentrations of SBMTE were 0.07ng/mL and 0.02ng/mL on day 21, respectively. The data from this study indicate that the method is sensitive and provides a relatively long time frame for the retrospective detection of SM exposure.
Keywords: Gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; Rabbit cutaneous exposure model; Sulfur mustard; Urine; β-Lyase metabolites.
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