Abstract
The method validation for the speciation of five arsenic species in urine samples by liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. Arsenic species which are identified and quantified in urine samples are the anions of arsenic(III), arsenic(V), monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid, and the cationic arsenobetaine. Detection limits were obtained in the range 0.3–0.4 μg As l−1 while the repeatability was in the range 3–4% (RSD) for concentrations above five times the detection limit. Urine samples could be analysed directly after a ten-fold dilution step. Arsenic compound concentrations were determined in urine samples from a volunteer who consumed a portion of tuna fish high in arsenobetaine. It was found that arsenobetaine was excreted rapidly via the urine with maximum concentrations after 12 h. Nearly complete arsenobetaine excretion was reached after 48 h. Background levels of arsenic compounds were determined in 61 urine samples from non-exposed inhabitants of The Netherlands. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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