Determination of Thiodiglycol and Its Oxide in Biomedical Samples by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A unified procedure is proposed for the determination of thiodiglycol (TDG) and its oxide (TDGO) as markers of exposure to sulfur mustard in biomedical samples (urine, blood plasma, hairs) by gas chromatography–electron ionization mass spectrometry. The limit of detection of the procedure is comparable with the lowest level of endogenous TDG in biosamples (1 ng mL^–1). Solid-phase microextraction of the derivatized analytes from the reaction mixture decreases the matrix effect. The procedure was tested in the analysis of rat biosamples obtained after in vivo exposure to sulfur mustard. The procedure was found to offer a higher potential in the retrospective determination of the total TDG and TDGO level in rat urine (within 7 days after exposure to 2 mg kg^–1 of sulfur mustard) compared to the determination of the same markers in blood plasma. Blood plasma can be used for confirmatory analysis, provided the samples are taken within 2 days after exposure. Hair was found to be the least suitable biomatrix in view of the variability of the TDG background level in these samples and the possibility of contamination with TGD from other sources.