Monitoring exposure to 4,4'-methylenedianiline by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of adducts to hemoglobin.

The determination of the covalently bound reaction products of 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA) to hemoglobin was investigated as a possible method for biological dosimetry in humans. The extent of binding to rat hemoglobin of MDA was determined by dosing animals with the 14C-ring-labeled compound. Two adducts were released from the hemoglobin on hydrolysis under mildly basic conditions which were identified as MDA and N-acetyl-MDA and accounted for between 36 and 45% of the total radioactivity bound to the protein. A quantitative assay procedure was subsequently developed for measuring both of the base released adducts in rat hemoglobin. The method utilized solvent extraction followed by derivatization with pentafluoropropionic anhydride and subsequent separation and quantitation by capillary gas chromatography with selective ion monitoring mass spectrometry using deuterium-labeled analogues of MDA and N-acetyl-MDA as internal standards. A dose-response relationship was established in orally dosed rats between production of each of the hemoglobin released adducts and dose of MDA (1-12 mg/kg). The possible use of such adduct determinations as dosimeters for industrial workers exposed to MDA is discussed.