Detection of 1-Hydroxypyrene as a Urine Biomarker of Human PAH Exposure Determined by Fluorescence and Solid-Matrix Luminescence Spectroscopy

Abstract

A new solid-matrix luminescence method was developed for human biomonitoring that employs room-temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence for the detection and identification of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PY). Several high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractions from human urine samples were characterized by both solution fluorescence and solid-matrix luminescence. The solution fluorescence data and the solid-matrix luminescence data complemented each other. For example, in one of the fractions, the solution fluorescence showed the presence of tetrahydrotetrols of benzo[a]pyrene. However, in this fraction, 1-OH-PY was readily detected by solid-matrix luminescence. In addition, solution fluorescence showed that 1-OH-PY was not in some of the fractions, but solid-matrix luminescence showed that 1-OH-PY was present. Solid-matrix phosphorescence was very effective in detecting 1-OH-PY in the fractions where solution fluorescence and solidmatrix fluorescence indicated that 1-OH-PY was not present. The limits of detection were in the pmol/mL range by solution fluorescence and in the subpicomole range with solid-matrix luminescence.