A sensitive and fast method for trihalomethanes in urine using gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

• We develop a fast method for the determination of trihalomethanes in human urine.
• Small initial urine volume (15 mL) and extremely fast analysis per sample (12 min).
• First report using GC–QqQ-MS/MS for the determination of trihalomethanes in urine.

Because of the plethora of exposure sources and routes through which humans are exposed to trihalomethanes (THM), the limitation of their short half-lives could be overcome, if a highly sensitive method was available to quantify urinary THM concentrations at sub-ppb levels. The objective of this study was to develop a fast and reliable method for the determination of the four THM analytes in human urine. A sensitive methodology was developed for THM in urine samples using gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC–QqQ-MS/MS) promoting its use in epidemiological and biomonitoring studies. The proposed methodology enjoys limits of detection similar to those reported in the literature (11–80 ng L−1) and the advantages of small initial urine volumes (15 mL) and fast analysis per sample (12 min) when compared with other methods. This is the first report using GC–QqQ-MS/MS for the determination of THM in urine samples. Because of its simplicity and less time-consuming nature, the proposed method could be incorporated into detailed (hundreds of participants’ urine samples) exposure assessment protocols providing valuable insight into the dose–response relationship of THM and cancer or pregnancy anomalies.