Sensitive HPLC Method for Quantitative Analysis of Mandelic Acid, Hippuric Acid, Methyl Hippuric Acid in Human Urine

Introduction

Metabolites in human urine such as hippuric acid (HA), o-methyl hippuric acid (M-HA) and mandelic acid (MA) are indicators of exposure to toxic solvents toluene, xylene and styrene, respectively. Frequent exposure to these solvents may cause damage to the human central nervous system. To determine the level of exposure, urine samples of subjects are collected and analysed quantitatively for HA, M-HA and MA per creatinine mass of an individual. Normal level of HA for an unexposed subject is 1g/g creatinine, while M-HA should not be present. The threshold limits for the exposed subject are 1.6g HA/g creatinine, 1.5g M-HA/g creatinine and 0.8g MA/g creatinine. The HPLC method described in this Application News allows us to determine HA, M-HA, MA and creatinine in urine samples simultaneously without need for sample clean up except filtration.

October 13, 2016 GMT