Method for the Determination of Three Toxic Non-Orthochlorine Substituted Coplanar PCBs in Environmental Samples at Part-per-Trillion Levels

Abstract

A method has been devised combining alkali digestion, carbon chromatography and high-resolution gas chromatography for the determination of 3,3',4,4'-tetra, 3,3',4,4',5-penta, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, the biologically active congeners of PCBs and approximate isostereomers of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. This method permits determinations of parts-per-trillion levels of these toxic residues in biological samples. Interference both from biogenic and from xenobiotic substances was reduced to extremely low levels. Using this method, 13.5 ng of 3,3'4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl/g, 0.89 ng of 3,3'4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl/g and 0.64 ng of 3,3',4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl/g were detected on wet weight basis in the blubber of a finless porpoise. To our knowledge this is the first report on the three toxic non-ortho chlorine substituted PCB residues detected in a higher mammal in the wilderness.

Congener-specific data on polychlorinated biphenyls in tissues of common porpoise from Puck Bay, Baltic Sea

“…A Hewlett-Packard 5970C data system was used to aid in the quantification of PCB congeners. (Tanabe et al 1987a). An equivalent mixture of Kanechlors ® 300,400,500, and 600 with a full range of PCBs and known composition (Tanabe et al 1987b) was used as a standard for the recovery and GC/MS quantification of all congeners other than non-ortho coplanar members.…”

“…77,126,and 169). These three PCB congeners were separated from other individuals using carbon column chromatography (Tanabe et al 1987a(Tanabe et al , 1989. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (Hewlett Packard 5890 GC) with a 5970 mass selective detector having an electron impact (El) mode at 70 eV was used for the determination of PCB congeners.…”

Persistent Organic Pollutants (PCBs and DDTs) in European Conger Eel, Conger conger L., from the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

“…For the separation of non-ortho PCB congeners (no. 77, 126 and 169) from other PCBs, the method reported by Tanabe et al (1987), involving fractionation on 125 mg of activated carbon (434455 C. Erba, Milano, Italy), was used. For the analysis of organochlorine compounds, a Thermo Trace GC connected with a Thermo PolarisQ MS operated in electron impact ionization (EI) mode was equipped with a 30 m 9 0.25 mm 9 0.25 lm Rtx 200 capillary column (Thermo, Austin, Texas, USA).…”

Tissue-Related Polychlorinated Biphenyls Accumulation in Mediterranean Cetaceans: Assessment of Toxicological Status

“…The mixture was extracted with petroleum ether (Erney, 1983) and the extracts were cleaned up following the procedure described by Murphy (1972). For the separation of non-ortho PCB congeners, 3,3', 4,4'-T 4 CB, (IUPAC 77), 3,3',4,4', 5-P 5 CB (IUPAC 126), and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-H 6 CB (IUPAC 169) from other PCBs, the method reported by Tanabe et al (1987) was used. Analyses were done with a Carlo Erba HR gas chromatograph (GC) 8000 Top with automatic injection system, and with an electron capture detector ECD-400, Ni 63 (temperature: 330°C).…”