2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Determining in workplace air with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry

Abstract

PCDD are environmental pollutants, called Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Their trace amounts can be found in almost all the spectrum of global ecosystems. Nearly 90% of human exposure to dioxins comes from food. POPs compounds, which gather in fatty tissues, are slowly metabolized and remain harmful even after a relatively long time after exposure. Dioxins enter the human body with food and accumulate in fat-rich tissues. Dioxins gradually and slowly accumulate in the body. They trigger a number of immunological reactions, which take the form of chronic skin allergies. They can disturb the body hormone economy through induction of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor. The aim of the work was to develop and validate a sensitive method of determining 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the working environment in the range of 1/10–2 MAC values. The developed method consists in adsorption of TCDD on polyurethane foam followed by extraction of the retained compound with toluene and chromatographic analysis using a high-resolution mass spectrometry. The determined TCDD desorption coefficient from polyurethane foam with 20% acetone in toluene is 83.1%. The response of the mass detector is linear (r = 0.998) in the concentration range of 18–360 pg/ml, which corresponds to the range of 1.8–36 mg/m3 (1/10–2 MAC) for an air sample of 10 m3. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of this method is 10.26 pg/ml. Using a DB-5MS capillary column makes a selective determination of TCDD in the presence of toluene, nonane and other co-existing compounds possible. The developed method is characterized by good precision and accuracy and meets the requirements of European Standard EN 482 for procedures on determining chemical agents. The developed method of determining TCDD has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.