title: Hexachlorocyclohexanes in human blood serum.
abstract: A simplified method allowing the determination of trace concentrations (ng/ml) of hexachlorocyclohexanes in human sera suitable for the analysis of large numbers of samples has been developed. Comparison of acid (conc. H2SO4,) and basic (5 M KOH) digestion has shown that good recoveries are obtained with the former when an internal standard, 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene (TBB), is used to correct for volatilization losses. Good separation between alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH isomers, TBB, hexachlorobenzene and some interfering compounds is obtained with DB-5 columns. The use of electron-capture detection (ECD) or negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (NICI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode (m/z 71) provides sufficient sensitivity for quantitative determination. ECD is the most sensitive method for beta-HCH and NICI-MS for the other isomers. GC-NICI-MS is needed for the unambiguous determination of delta-HCH due to the coelution with one interfering compound. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of a series of 625 samples collected in a population situated near the effluents of an organochlorinated solvent factory. The results have shown that beta-HCH is selectively accumulated in human sera and prompt to the preferential investigation of the toxic effects of this isomer in humans and mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry (CID-CSIC), Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santiago-Silva
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Grimalt
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane