Quantification of toxic chemicals in selected human populations

The evaluation of risk posed by toxic chemicals to human populations requires a knowledge of the toxicity of compounds and the extent of human exposure to the compounds. Analytical methods developed at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) typify the laboratory techniques needed to support epidemiologic studies. In these procedures, specific sample preparation techniques are used to isolate the target compounds, which are then measured by capillary gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The authors are developing a method for quantifying a number of volatile organic compounds in human whole blood. Concerns about exposure to this class of compounds has led to controls and monitoring programs on drinking water systems, a major source of human exposure. The authors method development has defined the analytical approach as a variation on the traditional purge and trap technique.