Analysis of pesticides and PCB congeners in serum by GC/MS with SPE sample cleanup

This paper describes a simple procedure for the quantitative analysis of 25 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCB) in serum. They are PCB 70, 74, 77, 87, 99, 101, 118, 126, 128, 138, 151, 153, 156, 169, 170, 180, 183, 187, 191, 194, 205, 206, 208 and 209. In addition, 15 pesticides are analyzed in the same extract: aldrin, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan 1, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, a-hexachlorocyclohexane, P-hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, methoxychlor, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, and 1, 2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene. The procedure involved sample cleanup using a combination of C18 and NH2 solid phase extraction cartridges. The instrumental technique was gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with both electron ionization and negative chemical ionization in the selected ion monitoring mode. Concentration of sub-ng/ml level was attainable with 2 ml of serum sample. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.