Original Article

Bioanalytical verification of sulfur mustard exposure in a Syrian family

10.26657/gulhane.00056

  • Sermet Sezigen
  • Ruşen Koray Eyison
  • Levent Kenar

Received Date: 10.02.2019 Accepted Date: 04.04.2019 Gulhane Med J 2019;61(2):64-68

Aims:

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a well-known chemical warfare agent. It is a highly reactive compound which has cytotoxic and carcinogenic. 1,1’-sulfonylbis[2-(methylthio)ethane] (SBMTE) is a ß-lyase metabolite of SM and it is the unequivocal diagnostic biomarker for SM exposure. Our study aimed to confirm SM exposure by detecting quantitative levels of SBMTE in urine samples of a family of four.

Methods:

A family of four who was exposed to SM was included into the study. Urine samples of victims were analysed by using a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) method for the detection of urinary SBMTE levels. External calibration standards were used in the multiple reaction monitoring mode of GC-MS-MS.

Results:

The limit of detection (LOD) for SBMTE was 1 ng/mL and the retention time for SBMTE was about 8.82 min. Urinary SBMTE levels of Patient 1 and 2 were measured as 314.43 ng/mL and 61.57 ng/mL respectively.

Conclusions:

We confirmed SM exposure in urine samples of two patients by quantitative analysis of urinary SBMTE. The retrospective detection of urinary SBMTE supported SM exposure which was initially diagnosed with typical medical history, and presented typical symptoms.

Keywords: Sulfur mustard, Mustard gas, Beta lyase metabolites, SBMTE, Chemical Terrorism, CBRN