Urinary metabolites from gamma- and beta-BHC in the mouse: chlorophenol conjugates.

Metabolites produced from gamma- and beta-BHC in the mouse urine were purified and characterized. Most metabolites from both isomers were not extractable by non-polar organic solvents and were conjugates such as sulfates and glucuronides. After hydrolysis with an appropriate enzyme, the conjugates gave chlorophenols, among which 2,4,6-trichlorophenol existed most abundantly (total, about 25% in the urine metabolites). 2,4-Dichlorophenol also constituted a significant portion.