Determination of atrazine metabolites in human urine: Development of a biomarker of exposure

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are reported for the detection of atrazine and its principle metabolite in human urine. The ELISAs can be used with crude urine or following extraction and partial purification by methods described in this report. GC, MS, and HPLC techniques were used to confirm and complement the ELISA methods for qualitative and quantitative detection of urinary metabolites. A series of samples from workers applying this herbicide confirmed a mercapturic acid conjugate of atrazine as a major urinary metabolite. The mercapturate was found in concentrations at least 10 times that of any of the N-dealkylated products or the parent compound. Atrazine mercapturic acid was isolated from urine using affinity extraction based upon a polyclonal antibody for hydroxy-s-triazines and yielded products sufficiently pure for structure confirmation by MS/MS. In a pilot study monitoring applicators, a relationship between cumulative dermal and inhalation exposure and total amount of atrazine equivalents excreted over a 10-day period was observed. On the basis of these data, we propose that an ELISA for the mercapturate of atrazine could be developed as a useful marker of exposure.