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Dana B. Barr,¹ John R. Barr,¹ Sandra L. Bailey,¹ Chester R. Lapeza, Jr,¹ Michelle D. Beeson,¹ Samuel P. Caudill,¹ Vincent L. Maggio,¹ Arnold Schecter,² Scott A. Masten,² George W. Lucier,² Larry L. Needham,¹ and Eric J. Sampson¹

¹Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
²Environmental Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

Abstract

We developed a sensitive and accurate analytical method for quantifying methyleugenol (ME) in human serum. Our method uses a simple solid-phase extraction followed by a highly specific analysis using isotope dilution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Our method is very accurate ; its limit of detection is 3.1 pg/g and its average coefficient of variation is 14% over a 200-pg/g range. We applied this method to measure serum ME concentrations in adults in the general U.S. population. ME was detected in 98% of our samples, with a mean ME concentration of 24 pg/g (range < 3.1-390 pg/g) . Lipid adjustment of the data did not alter the distribution. Bivariate and multivariate analyses using selected demographic variables showed only marginal relationships between race/ethnicity and sex/fasting status with serum ME concentrations. Although no demographic variable was a good predictor of ME exposure or dose, our data indicate prevalent exposure of U.S. adults to ME. Detailed pharmacokinetic studies are required to determine the relationship between ME intake and human serum ME concentrations. Key words: mass spectrometry, methyleugenol, reference range, serum. Environ Health Perspect 108:323-328 (2000) . [Online 22 February 2000]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p323-328barr/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to D.B. Barr, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop F17, Atlanta, GA 30341 USA. Telephone: (770) 488-7886. Fax: (770) 488-4609. E-mail: dlb1@cdc.gov

We thank those individuals from the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC who participated in the planning and implementation of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We thank A. Woolfitt, S. Stanfill, D. Ashley, E. Smith, D. LaVoie, and E. Gunter for technical assistance. We also thank C. Smith and M. Cunningham for reviewing this manuscript.

The use of trade names is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the Public Health Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the CDC.

Received 11 February 1999 ; accepted 29 October 1999.