The analytical method permits simultaneous determination of the mercapturic acid of epichlorohydrin i.e. N‐acetyl‐S‐(3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyl) cysteine (CHPMA) and of four mercapturic acids of 2‐chloroprene in urine: N‐acetyl‐S‐(4‐chloro‐3‐oxobutyl) cysteine (Cl‐MA I), N‐acetyl‐S‐(3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐butenyl) cysteine (Cl‐MA III), N‐acetyl‐S‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐oxobutyl) cysteine (HOBMA) and N‐acetyl‐S‐(3,4‐dihydroxybutyl) cysteine (DHBMA). The mercapturic acids HOBMA and DHBMA are also formed after exposure to 1,3‐butadiene.
For determination, the urine samples are buffered to pH 2.5, spiked with isotopelabeled internal standards (d
3
‐CHPMA, d
3
‐Cl‐MA I, d
3
‐Cl‐MA III, d
3
‐HOBMA and d
7
‐DHBMA), processed using online solid phase extraction (online SPE) and LC–MS/MS. For that purpose the analytes are enriched on a C18 pre‐concentration column [RAM (Restricted Access Material) phase]. Subsequently, the analytes are transferred in backflush mode from the RAM phase to the analytical column, separated chromatographically and finally subjected to tandem mass spectrometric detection. Calibration is carried out using standard solutions in pooled urine which are processed and analyzed in the same way as the samples to be analyzed.