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Uranium analysis in urine by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Urine uranium concentrations are the best biological indicator for identifying exposure to depleted uranium (DU). Internal exposure to DU causes an increased amount of urine uranium and a decreased ratio of 235U/238U in urine samples, resulting in measurements that vary between 0.00725 and 0.002 (i.e., natural and depleted uranium’s 235U/238U ratios, respectively). A method based on inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS) was utilized to identify DU in urine by measuring the quantity of total U and the 235U/238U ratio. The quantitative analysis was achieved using 233U as an internal standard. The analysis was performed both with and without the reaction gas oxygen. The reaction gas converted ionized 235U+ and 238U+ into 235UO2+ (m/z=267) and 238UO2+ (m/z=270). This conversion was determined to be over 90% efficient. A polyatomic interference at m/z 234.8 was successfully removed from the 235U signal under either DRC operating conditions (with or without oxygen as a reaction gas). The method was validated with 15 urine samples of known uranium compositions. The method detection limit for quantification was determined to be 0.1 pg U mL−1 urine and an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 1–2% within the sample measurements. The method detection limit for determining 235U/238U ratio was 3.0 pg U mL−1 urine. An additional 21 patient samples were analyzed with no information about medical history. The measured 235U/238U ratio within the urine samples correctly identified the presence or absence of internal DU exposure in all 21 patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI, 49855, USA

    John W. Ejnik

  2. Department of Environmental and Toxicologic Pathology, Division of Biophysical Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), 6825 16 St. N.W., Washington, DC, 20306, USA

    Todor I. Todorov, Florabel G. Mullick & Jose A. Centeno

  3. University of Maryland School of Medicine, 405 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Katherine Squibb & Melissa A. McDiarmid

Authors
  1. John W. Ejnik
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  2. Todor I. Todorov
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  3. Florabel G. Mullick
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  4. Katherine Squibb
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  5. Melissa A. McDiarmid
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  6. Jose A. Centeno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jose A. Centeno.

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The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as representing the views of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense

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Ejnik, J.W., Todorov, T.I., Mullick, F.G. et al. Uranium analysis in urine by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 382, 73–79 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-3173-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-3173-9

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