Organohalogen residues in human adipose autopsy samples from six Ontario municipalities.

Human adipose tissue samples obtained during autopsies in 6 Canadian Great Lakes municipalities were analyzed for chlorobenzenes, polychlorobiphenyls, and organohalogen pesticide residues. The frequency of occurrence and the range and mean for 28 organohalogen residues are reported for male and female donors in each municipality. Overall mean residue values in females were significantly higher than those in males for hexachlorobenzene, beta-HCH, p,p'-DDE,p,p'-DDD + o,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDT. The means and ranges of residue values were similar to those reported in previous Canadian surveys.

Determination of halogenated contaminants in human adipose tissue.

A method has been developed for determination of organochlorine contaminants in human adipose tissue. After fat extraction from the tissue with acetone-hexane (15 + 85, v/v), organochlorines were fractionated from fat by gel permeation chromatography with methylene chloride-cyclohexane (1 + 1, v/v) as solvent. After Florisil column cleanup, the GPC extract was analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography using 2 columns of different polarity. Compound identity was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Recoveries for fortification levels of 10-500 ng/g were greater than 80% except for trichlorobenzene and hexachlorobutadiene (ca 60%).

Are video display terminals a source of increased PCB concentration in the working atmosphere? One answer.

In response to the question: "Are datascreen terminals a source of increased PCB concentrations in the working atmosphere?" a study of PCB emissions from video display terminals (VDT) was undertaken. Emissions of 2.4 to 8.1 ng PCB/h were observed from VDT located in a building (1) where the mean PCB level in the air was 46 ng PCB/m3 during the test period, whereas no PCB emissions were detected from VDT located in a building (2) where no PCB could be detected in the ambient air. However, both the air and the VDT from building 2 were found to be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We conclude that the observed PCB emissions from VDT are the result of the vapourization of PCB deposited onto the VDT from the PCB contaminated air and do not originate from the electrical components of the VDT.

A comparison of organochlorine residues in human adipose tissue autopsy samples from two Ontario municipalities.

Human adipose tissue samples obtained during autopsies in a Canadian Great Lakes community, Kingston, Ontario, and a second community, Ottawa, Ontario, were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorobiphenyls, chlorobenzenes, and chlorophenols. Significantly different levels of Dichlorodiphenyl -dichloroethane, mirex, hexachlorobenzene, and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol were found in Kingston adipose tissues compared to Ottawa tissues. Residue levels of oxychlordane , mirex, and polychlorinated biphenyls were significantly different in Kingston males versus Kingston females. The means and ranges of residue levels were contrasted with those reported in previous Canadian surveys.

Determination of organic phosphate triesters in human adipose tissue.

A method of analysis has been developed for the determination of organic phosphate triesters in human adipose fat at low ng/g levels. After fat extraction from the tissue with benzene (or acetone-hexane, 15 + 85, v/v), phosphates were fractionated from fat by gel permeation chromatography with methylene chloride-cyclohexane (5 + 95, v/v) as solvent. After Florisil column cleanup, the GPC extract was analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus selective detector. Recoveries at the 2.5, 10, and 25 ng/g levels were greater than 75% except for tri(2,4-xylenyl) phosphate (ca 65%). Of 16 human adipose tissue samples analyzed, 5 contained tris(1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate in the range of 0.5 to 110 ng/g, 4 contained tributoxyethyl phosphate in the range of 4.0 to 26.8 ng/g, and one contained tributyl phosphate at 9.0 ng/g.

Isolation and concentration of organophosphorus pesticides from drinking water at the ng/L level, using macroreticular resin.

A screening method has been developed for determining organophosphorus pesticides at ng/L levels in drinking water. Sixteen organophosphorus pesticides, diazinon, diazinon-oxon, dimethoate, ronnel, beta-phosphamidon, methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, malathion, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, ruelene, methidathion, ethion, EPN, phosalone, and phosmet, were extracted by Amberlite XAD-2 resin from 100 and 200 L drinking water previously spiked with these pesticides. The pesticides were eluted from the XAD-2 resin with acetone-hexane (15+85). The concentrated extract was analyzed by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus selective detector and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Recoveries at the 10 and 100 ng/L spiking levels were greater than 90%, except recoveries for dimethoate and phosphamidon were 37 and 42%, respectively. The analysis of 300 L Ottawa tap water showed no detectable amounts (less than 1 ng/L) of any of the 16 organophosphorus pesticides.

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at the ng/L level in Ottawa tap water.

Samples of Ottawa drinking water, collected in January and February 1978 were analysed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for fifty polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and five oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (O-PAH), following extraction of the organic species using Amberlite XAD-2 macroreticular resin. In the January sample, thirty PAHs, ranging in concentration from 0.05 to 14 ng/L with a mean value of 3.8 ng/L and a total weight of 114 ng/L and four O-PAHs, ranging in concentration from 0.10 to 1.8 ng/L with a mean value of 0.91 ng/L and a total weight of 3.7 ng/L, were detected. In the February sample, thirty-six PAHs, ranging in concentration from 0.05 to 8.1 ng/L with a mean value of 1.4 ng/L and a total weight of 50.4 ng/L and five O-PAHs, ranging in concentration from 0.20 to 2.4 ng/L with a mean value of 1.0 ng/L and a total weight of 5.2 ng/L, were detected. Twenty-eight PAHs and four O-pahs were common to the two samples. The use of Amberlite XAD-2 macroreticular resin to extract PAHs from drinking water is shown to be effective, although the recovery of individual PAHs from artificially loaded XAD-2 resin varied from 57 to 100%.

Mutagenicity of organic extracts from Canadian drinking water in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome assay.

Organic extracts of chlorinated Ontario drinking water samples have been found to induce mutation and lethality in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome histadine reversion assay. Collections of water were made at water treatment plants in five municipalities in June 1978. To determine the reproducibility of the positive mutagenic effects found, a second sampling at the same plants was performed in September 1978. Preparation of extracts involved passing 200 liter samples through XAD-2 resin columns which were eluted with a mixture of hexane and acetone, and the eluent was evaporated to dryness. For those extracts with sufficient organic matter, dose-related increases in mutagenicity were observed. Extracts of untreated water from a river and a well were weakly mutagenic.