Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

Biomarkers or new analytical methods for exposures to industrial toxics have
also been studied. Chlorine exposure has been found to trigger both 3chlorotyrosine
(CY) and 3,5-dichlorotyrosine (dCY) – produced by the
modification of tyrosine by reactive chlorine – making them promising new
metabolites to investigate. 70 Using an LC-MS/MS method, six rodenticides
could be detected and quantified after liquid/liquid extraction of blood
samples. 71
A simple method, based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-
MS), has been developed and validated for the determination of fenitrothion,
its metabolite 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, and five other organophosphorus
pesticides (acephate, cyanophos, methidathion, ethyl-p-nitrophenyl
phenylphosphonothioate, and malathion) in human urine. 72
A gas chromatography-mass spectroscopic (GC-MS) method has also been
described for the routine assessment of organo-phosphorus pesticide
exposure via automated solid phase extraction of the metabolites present in
urine prior to derivatisation with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and quantitation
by GC-MS, 73 while the same method was used for the determination of
dichlorvos in blood samples. 74
Inorganic materials in body samples can also be analysed successfully. A
rapid and reliable method, based on high-performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC)-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), has been
developed for the determination of inorganic arsenic in human urine. 75 The
same method was used to analyse Lewisite metabolites in urine. 76
A headspace gas chromatographic method with electron capture detection
has been applied to the determination of cyanide in blood, 77 while highperformance
liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) was used to analyse arsine-exposed human
blood samples for arsenic speciation, 78 or arsenic in urine. 79
A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the analysis of
inorganic arsenic in urine but the samples need to be treated with copper
granules prior to reaction with ammonium molybdate for visual detection. 80
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) has
been found suitable for the determination of mercury and lead in biological
fluids and tissues at concentrations likely to be encountered in cases of acute
poisoning, but the sensitivity remains weak for lower exposures. 81
Toxic gas such as phosphine, present in body samples, could be detected by
using headspace gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection
(HS-GC/NPD), 82 while concentrations of thiosulphate in urine could indicate
exposure to hydrogen sulphide gas. 83
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