QUANTIFICATION OF THIODIGLYCOL IN HUMAN URINE AFTER AN ACCIDENTAL SULFUR MUSTARD EXPOSURE

Abstract

A case of accidental human exposure to sulfur mustard, the chemical warfare agent, was documented. The exposure produced skin damage in the form of erythema and blisters comprising less than 5% of the body surface area. Analytical methods verified and quantitatively analyzed the exposure by observing urinary thiodiglycol levels using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A maximum thiodiglycol urinary excretion rate of 20 μg/day was reached at day 3. Concentrations over 10 ng/mL were seen for as long as a week post exposure using the standard assay. First-order analysis of the elimination data yielded a thiodiglycol half-life of 1.2 d.