Lillemor Asplund

Analysis of some polyhalogenated organic pollutants in sediment and sewage sludge

Abstract A laminated sediment core collected in the southern part of the Baltic Proper was analysed for DDT compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) including the coplanar congeners, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN). Two sewage sludge samples were also analysed for the same compounds. The results of the sediment analyses indicate the presence of PCB, DDT and PBDE compounds in sediment layers dating from the 1950s and later. Neither coplanar PCB nor PCN were detected at any level of the sediment core. The PCB concentrations indicate a slight increase in levels during the last decades, while there were no changes in the levels of DDT compounds. In contrast, TeBDE levels increase 4- to 8-fold and one PeBDE congeners levels increase 10- to 20-fold. The results of sewage sludge analyses showed the concentration of the individual PBDE to be at about the same level as for the individual PCB congeners. The congener pattern in sludge samples indicates low-chlorinated products to be the main PCN source.

Isolation of mono- and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls from biological samples by electron-donor acceptor high performance liquid chromatography using a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column

Abstract A method for the analysis of both mono- and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in biological tissue samples is described. The method includes solvent extraction, sulfuric acid/n-hexane partitioning, gel permeation chromatography and finally electron-donor acceptor high performance liquid chromatography using a 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica column (PYE column). The PYE column separates PCBs according to the number of chlorine atoms in the ortho positions. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/electron capture detection (GC/ECD) were used to analyze the non- and the mono-ortho PCB fractions, respectively. The method was found to give high recoveries and a low degree of discrimination between different PCB congeners.

Multiresidue method for the gas-chromatographic analysis of some polychlorinated and polybrominated pollutants in biological samples

SummaryA multiresidue method for the analysis of a number of chlorinated and brominated organic compounds in biological samples has been developed. The method includes gas-chromatographic analysis of hexachlorinated and hexabrominated benzenes (HCB and HBB), polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls (PCB and PBB), polychlorinated phenols (PCP), guaiacols (PCG), paraffins (CP) and naphthalenes (PCN), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and the pesticides DDT, polychlorinated terpenes (PCC or toxaphene), chlordanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), aldrin and dieldrin. The use of charcoal column in the clean-up procedure makes it also possible to analyze the planar PCB congeners (pPCB). Cod muscle samples were spiked with 10 and 50 times the detection levels of the compounds to be analyzed. The mean recoveries, relative to internal standards, for 40 compounds or compound groups were between 51 and 120%.

Analysis of non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes in Swedish dioxin survey samples

Abstract The coplanar (non-ortho) polychlorinated biphenyls (pPCB) 3,3′4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 77), 3,3′4,4′5-pentachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 126), 3,3′4,4′5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC 169) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) were analyzed in biological and sediment samples. The predominant congeners found in biological samples were IUPAC 77, IUPAC 126, two early eluting pentachloronaphthalenes and one early eluting hexachloronaphthalene. Baltic herring show seasonal differences in pPCB and PCN levels. The lipid weight levels in cod muscle and liver are very similar despite differences in fat content. Pike and sediment from a PCB-contaminated river contain very high levels of pPCB and PCN but have PCDD/F levels that are not unusually high. There are differences in the levels and isomer pattern between the sediment and pike indicating metabolism and bioaccumulation. There is a significant correlation between total and planar PCB content in herring and cod samples. The toxic potential of pPCB in most of the fish samples expressed as TCDD toxic equivalents more than equals that of PCDD/F.