In vitro hydrolysis of methyl acetate, a limitation in application of head-space gaschromatography in biological monitoring of exposure

Abstract Stoichiometric conversion of methyl acetate to methanol in vitro was detected when methyl acetate was incubated with blood for 2 to 8 h. The velocity of the reaction was so fast that almost all of methyl acetate disappeared in 8 h. The methanol formation was further confirmed by means of gaschromatography-mass spectrometry. The capacity to hydrolyze methyl acetate was evenly distributed in cellular and noncellular fractions of blood, but not in urine. The significance of the observation is discussed in relation to biological monitoring of exposure to industrial ester solvents by means of head-space gaschromatography of blood samples.