Products of aniline and triglycerides in oil samples associated with the toxic oil syndrome.

The toxic oil syndrome (TOS) was a devastating disease that occurred in Spain in 1981. The disease was associated with the consumption of aniline-denatured and refined rapeseed oil that had been illegally sold as olive oil. Many aniline-derived oil components have been identified in the oils; however, no etiological agent has ever been identified for this disease. We have continued the study of the TOS problem by applying new technology in the form of liquid chromatography interfaced via atmospheric pressure ionization with tandem mass spectrometry. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we studied diluted TOS-associated oils by direct analysis without prior sample treatment. Using this technology, we found new classes of compounds that are associated with disease-related oils. The compounds that have been identified are esters and ester amides of 3-(N-phenylamino)-1,2-propanediol and are products of aniline and triglycerides. Because of the varied fatty acid (oleic acid, etc.) content of the oils, many variations of the above compounds are possible. We now report the identities of more than 20 compounds not previously identified. These compounds are strongly associated with oils that caused the toxic oil syndrome. We believe these compounds should be considered for future animal studies.