Urinalysis of minor metabolites of ethylbenzene and m-xylene.

Gas chromatographic methods have been developed for the urinalysis of metabolic products of ethylbenzene. "Minor" metabolites were emphasized in this process. The methods were worked out so that simultaneous determination of several compounds could be achieved with one method. On the whole, four assays are described, which together allow 12 different compounds to be measured. Since one of the methods presented can be applied to determine "minor" metabolites of xylene as well, methodological data for these are also reported. The methods described have successfully been used in metabolic studies of ethylbenzene in rat and man.