Simultaneous determination of five synthetic pyrethroid metabolites in urine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Application to 39 persons without known exposure to pyrethroids

A sensitive and reliable method was developed and validated for the determination of five synthetic pyrethroid metabolites namely cis-Cl2CA, trans-Cl2CA, Br2CA, 3-PBA and 4-FPBA in human urine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. 2D6-labelled trans-Cl2CA and 13C6-labelled 3-PBA were used as internal standards. This method was based on a liquid–liquid extraction procedure in acidic conditions using hexane solvent with a basic purification, a chromatographic separation using a specific C18 column and mass spectrometric detection in the negative polarity. Suitable limits of detection (0.015 μg/L for the five compounds) and quantification (from 0.020 to 0.030 μg/L) were obtained for rendering the method usable for the biomonitoring of pyrethroids in the general population. The efficiency of the method was tested in 39 urine samples from French people without any known exposure to pyrethroids. At least three of the five metabolites were detected in each sample. The results of this study were compared to those obtained in previous ones and discussed.

► Five pyrethroid metabolites were analysed in human urine using LC–MS/MS.
► Sensitivities are suitable to investigate metabolites in urine of general population.
► 39 urine samples were analysed in order to test the efficiency of the method.
► At least three of the five metabolites were detected in each sample.
► The obtained results were compared to those previously published and discussed.