Isomerspecific analysis of pentachlorophenol and sodium pentachlorophenate for 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD and PCDF at sub-ppb levels☆

Environmental contaminants and reproductive success of great blue herons Ardea herodias in British Columbia, 1986–1987

Negative chemical ionization (NCI) of organic compounds

In the period 1980 to 1982, nineteen CormorantsPhalacrocorax carbo, three Grey HeronsArdea cinerea and one Great Crested GrebePodiceps crisatus were collected in The Netherlands. The livers of these fish-eating birdspecies were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. Only congeners with a 2,3,7,8-chlorine substitution pattern were found in the livers. Major components were 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were also present. Six pooled samples of the EelAnguilla anguilla, showed the same congeneric pattern of chemicals as found in these bird species. In the Eel, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were generally present in the 1 to 5 ng/kg range. Since the Eel is the Cormorant's 2 major food, this indicates strong bioaccumulation for both congeners in the liver of the Cormorant. Significant correlations were found between the various congeners retained in the liver of the Cormorant. It is proposed that this is a result of a continous exposure to a relatively stable background mixture, probably originating from fish consumption. Based on the congeneric patterns found in the Cormorant, polychlorinated biphenyls and pentachlorophenol are suggested as major contaminating sources for this species. Based on the results from the Cormorants, an open one compartment model was applied to estimate concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PnCDF in the Eel. These calculations were in good agreement with the actual measurements found in the Eels.

Presence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in fish-eating birds and fish from the Netherlands

Levels of organochlorine compounds, including PCDDS and PCDFS, in the blubber of cetaceans from the west coast of North America

All ten hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HCDD) isomers, prepared by micropyrolysis of chlorophenates, were studied by using mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Of several ionization modes studied, oxygen negative chemical ionization was the most suitable for isomer identification. This technique enabling isomer specific identification to be carried out was applied to hexachlorodioxin impurities in pentachlorophenol samples and detected small amounts of 4:2 substituted isomer not previously known. 17 references, 7 figures, 2 tables.

Isomer-specific determination of hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins by oxygen negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography

Greg P. Malis

Papers

Isomer-specific determination of hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins by oxygen negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography

Isomer specific determination of hexachlorodioxins in technical pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its sodium salt