Quantitative determination of arsenocholine and acetylarsenocholine in aquatic organisms using pyrolysis and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace amounts of quaternary organoarsenicals such as arsenocholine and acetylarsenocholine has been developed. The method is based on pyrolysis, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and use of deuterium-labelled internal standards. Arsenocholine and acetylarsenocholine have been estimated in fish from arsenic-polluted brackish water and compared with the same species of fish from unpolluted water. The investigation also includes some fish and crustacea from marine water. The presence of arsenocholine and acetylarsenocholine in different aquatic organisms indicate the existence of a general metabolic pathway for these compounds in aquatic ecosystems.