Environ Health PerspectEnvironmental Health Perspectives0091-6765107530901638031sc271_5_1835Research ArticleLevels of methyleugenol in a subset of adults in the general U.S. population as determined by high resolution mass spectrometry.BarrD BBarrJ RBaileyS LLapezaC RJrBeesonM DCaudillS PMaggioV LSchecterAMastenS ALucierG WNeedhamL LSampsonE JDivision of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. dlb1@cdc.gov420001084323328

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.

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