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of 4 % ethyl acetate in benzene. In 1978-79 Silica Gel 60
<br />(E. Merck, 70/230 mesh) was used and the pesticide frac-
<br />tion eluant was changed to 25 mL of 25% diethyl ether
<br />in hexane. Total volume of the PCB eluant used depended
<br />on the activity of the silica gel and was calculated inde-
<br />pendently for each batch. In general, 35-45 mL of 0.5%
<br />benzene in hexane were used to separate the PCB's from
<br />the pesticide fraction. Both eluate fractions were rotoevap-
<br />orated to reduce the volume of solvent, and the resulting
<br />concentrates were diluted to 5 mL with isooctane prior to
<br />GLC.
<br />Gas-Liquid Chromatography
<br />In 1976 all samples were analyzed with a Tracor 222 gas
<br />chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector.
<br />The samples were injected into a glass column (1.8 m x
<br />2 mm i.d.) containing 4% SE-30 + 6% QF-1 coated on
<br />80/100 mesh Gas Chrom-Q support. Operating tempera-
<br />tures were as follows: column, 200° C for dieldrin, endrin,
<br />and dacthal, and 180° C for the PCB and pesticide frac-
<br />tions; injector, 250° C; and detector, 300° C. The carrier
<br />gas was argon/methane (95:5) flowing at 30 cc/min. We
<br />determined residues by the external standard calculation
<br />method, using peak height measurements.
<br />All 1977-79 samples were analyzed with a Varian 3700
<br />gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture
<br />detector. The glass analytical column (1.8 m x 2 mm i.d.)
<br />contained 1.5% SP-2250 + 1.95% SP-2401 on 100/120
<br />Supelcoport. We used the following operating temperatures:
<br />column, 200° C for the dieldrin-containing and PCB
<br />fractions and 180° C for the pesticide fraction; injector,
<br />250° C; and detector, 350° C. The carrier gas was
<br />argon/methane flowing at 20 cc/min. We quantitated resi-
<br />dues by the external standard method, using peak area
<br />calculations. In 1977, peak areas were collected on a Varian
<br />CDS-111 digital integrator. In 1977-79 a Perkin-Elmer
<br />Sigma 10 Laboratory Data Station was used for data col-
<br />lection.
<br />Confirmatory analyses were performed with a 3 % OV-1
<br />on 80/100 mesh Chromsorb-W HP column with the same
<br />dimensions as those indicated above. Samples that con-
<br />tained o, p'-DDE were analyzed on this column to differ-
<br />entiate interference from chlordane. Further confirmations
<br />or identifications of unknown compounds were performed
<br />on this column by comparing results with the U.S. Food
<br />and Drug Administration (FDA) chromatography data base
<br />(McMahon 1968).
<br />Quality Assurance
<br />The accuracy and precision of residue determinations
<br />depends on four factors: (a) efficient extraction and frac-
<br />tionation; (b) analytical methods (e.g., solvents and
<br />columns with uniform behavior and low background);
<br />(c) proper instrument maintenance and calibration; and (d)
<br />accurate standard solutions.
<br />To evaluate these factors, we made systematic recovery
<br />studies on two types of spiked reference materials: (a) "hot
<br />spikes" of 14C-radiolabeled dieldrin and p,p'-DDE were
<br />used to examine recovery and separation efficiencies
<br />through the extraction and fractionation steps; and (b) "cold
<br />spikes," fish tissue blanks to which a representative pesti-
<br />cide profile had been added, were used to evaluate residue
<br />recoveries at levels approximating realistic tissue concen-
<br />trations. Some samples were replicated to evaluate preci-
<br />sion, and 10-15% of the samples were analyzed by a second
<br />laboratory to corroborate our findings. Residues in selected
<br />samples were confirmed by using gas chromatography-mass
<br />spectrometry as described by Ribick et al. (1981, 1982).
<br />With reference to factors (c) and (d), we closely followed
<br />FDA criteria (McMahon 1968) in instrument calibration
<br />and maintenance, and in the preparation of standard solu-
<br />tions.
<br />Recovery efficiency for p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE,
<br />Aroclor 1254, dieldrin, cis-chlordane, and trans-chlordane
<br />exceeded 85 % throughout the study period, based on re-
<br />covery of 14C-labeled DDE and dieldrin and non-radio-
<br />labeled chemicals in spiked samples. The level of detec-
<br />tion was 0.1 µg/g wet weight for PCB's and toxaphene and
<br />0.01 µg/g for all other residues. Concentrations were not
<br />corrected for percent recovery.
<br />Cross-check Analyses
<br />The 1976-77 cross-check analyses were performed at a
<br />commercial laboratory, here termed "Lab A," where 25-g
<br />subsamples were mixed with 100 g of Na2SO4 and blended
<br />with 100 mL of 6% diethyl ether in petroleum ether. The
<br />mixture was filtered through a Buchner vacuum funnel.
<br />The filtrate was retained and the filter cake placed in a
<br />43- x 123-mm extraction thimble. The thimble was then
<br />Soxhlet-extracted overnight at four extraction cycles per
<br />hour with 300 mL of 6% diethyl ether in petroleum ether.
<br />The extract and filtrate were combined and concentrated
<br />by rotoevaporation and diluted to 25 mL with 15% dichloro-
<br />methane in cyclohexane. A 5-mL aliquot was loaded into
<br />an Autoprep 1001 GPC equipped with a 50-g Biobeads SX-3
<br />column in which 15 % dichloromethane in cyclohexane was
<br />used as the solvent.
<br />At Lab A the cleaned-up extracts were concentrated just
<br />to dryness by rotoevaporation and diluted to 15 mL with
<br />petroleum ether; 5 mL were then transferred to a 20-g Flori-
<br />sil column. A total of 100 mL of 20% dichloromethane in
<br />petroleum ether (eluant A) were used to elute PCB's, DDT
<br />homologs, chlordanes, BHC's, aldrin, HCB, heptachlor,
<br />and toxaphene; and 180 mL of 50% dichloromethane in
<br />petroleum ether (eluant B) were used to elute heptachlor
<br />epoxide, dieldrin, and endrin. The Florisil eluates were con-
<br />centrated just to dryness and adjusted to a volume of 5 mL
<br />with petroleum ether. A 1-mL aliquot of the A fraction was
<br />placed on a 5-g silica gel column. The PCB's, HCB, aldrin,
<br />heptachlor, and some p,p'-DDE were eluted with 25 mL
<br />of 0.5% benzene in petroleum ether. The rest of the com-
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