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Congener‐specific determination of dioxins and related compounds by gas chromatography coupled to LRMS, HRMS, MS/MS and TOFMS
Author(s) -
Eljarrat E.,
Barceló D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 1076-5174
DOI - 10.1002/jms.373
Subject(s) - chemistry , congener , environmental chemistry , chromatography , resolution (logic) , mass spectrometry , tandem mass spectrometry , artificial intelligence , computer science
Their characteristics as persistent organic pollutant and their toxicity (2,3,7,8‐TCDD is named as a known human carcinogen) make the dioxins and related compounds a focus of interest in environmental analytical chemistry. In view of the widespread distribution of dioxins in the environment, these compounds must be monitored in several matrices, such as air, effluents, soil, sludge and biological samples. The analytical methodologies are especially difficult owing to the complexity of the mixtures of congeners (210 PCDD/Fs and 209 PCBs) and to the low detection limits required (ppb to ppq). Moreover, time‐consuming sample preparation steps are needed owing to the presence of a large number of interfering compounds. The different toxicity of each congener requires the development of congener specific methods. This review of trace dioxin determination by mass spectrometry (MS) includes sample preparation and chromatographic separation. In this Special Feature, the use of different MS techniques such as low‐resolution MS (LRMS) and high‐resolution MS (HRMS) is discussed in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. The performances of other MS techniques, such as tandem MS (MS/MS) and time‐of‐flight MS (ToFMS), are compared. Quantification techniques, especially the isotopic dilution method, are also discussed. Conclusions and future perspectives are outlined. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.