Determination of chlorinated phenols and cresols in human urine using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography

A method is described for the isolation, derivatization, separation and determination of chlorinated phenols and cresols in urine. After acid hydrolysis, solid-phase extraction on Separcol SI C18 was used. Quantification was based on the internal standard method using 2,6-dibromophenol. Before GC determination the isolated compounds were derivatized with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. The separation of interfering substances followed on a Ekosorb column using elution with dichloromethane-toluene (15:85). The recovery of the method ranged from 72.3 +/- 9.9 to 109.9 +/- 6.3% and the limit of determination varied from 0.0005 to 0.002 micrograms ml-1. Using this method, 52 persons from occupationally and non-occupationally exposed groups were examined for the presence of chlorinated compounds in urine. The levels of chlorinated phenols and cresols were several times higher in the group of occupationally exposed workers, especially for 2,4-dichlorophenol.