Introduction: Cresol is being used for an antiseptic, disinfectant, maggot-killing agent and cresol soap solution. Since various kinds of more powerful and odorless disinfectants have nowadays become available in practical use, the frequency in the use of cresol seems decreasing. However, the cases of acute poisoning by cresol are still being reported at the present time. The toxic effects of cresol are due to its corrosive actions, resulting in the destruction of cell membranes and coagulation of proteins, and its suppressive action on the central nervous system [1]. There are three isomeric forms of cresol, vis., o-, m- and p-cresols;. | Cresol by Chiaki Fuke Introduction Cresol is being used for an antiseptic disinfectant maggot-killing agent and cresol soap solution. Since various kinds of more powerful and odorless disinfectants have nowadays become available in practical use the frequency in the use of cresol seems decreasing. However the cases of acute poisoning by cresol are still being reported at the present time. The toxic effects of cresol are due to its corrosive actions resulting in the destruction of cell membranes and coagulation of proteins and its suppressive action on the central nervous system 1 . There are three isomeric forms of cresol vis. o- m- and p-cresols the toxicity of each isomer is somewhat different 2 . The composition ratios of cresol isomers are different according to cresol-containing products it therefore seems very important to measure the concentrations of each isomer of cresol to identify a causative cresol product used in its poisoning case. Cresol after being absorbed into human bodies is metabolized into glucuronide- and or sulfate-conjugated forms and excreted into urine. The half-life of unchanged cresol in blood is as short as about h 3 this means that it becomes undetectable several hours after emergency treatments. However the metabolites conjugated forms remain in the body for relatively a long time 4-6 the detection of the conjugated form s sometimes becomes necessary. As methods for analysis of cresol GC 4 7-9 HPLC 5 6 10-14 and capillary electro-phoreisis 15 were reported. In this chapter procedures for HPLC and GC MS analysis of cresol isomers and their conjugates are presented. HPLC analysis Reagents and their preparation A 10-mg aliquot each of o- m- and p-cresols Aldrich Milwaukee WI USA and other manufacturers is dissolved in 10 mL methanol separately 1 mg mL . A 10-mg aliquot of 4-ethylphenola internal standard IS Aldrich and other manufacturers is dissolved in 10 mL methanol 1 mg mL . -Glucuronidase 10 mg of bovine liver .
