A study of organic bound halogens in human adipose, marine organisms and sediment by neutron activation and gas chromatographic analysis

Abstract

Organic bound halogens were determined simultaneously by the neutron activation and gas chromatographic analysis of crude and FlorisilR- chromatographed extracts of human adipose, marine organisms and river and marine sediment in Japan. Although about 60% of the total organic chlorine in Japanese human adipose could be accounted for as known chlorinated compounds, the remaining 40% of the total organic chlorine was found in the fraction containing fat, and identified as the chlorinated compounds similar to fat. Most of the organic bound bromine and iodine in human adipose was also found in the fat fraction though at very low levels. The amount of organic bound chlorine as determined by known chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine organisms was low, only 1 – 20% the total organic bound chlorine in the samples. Most of the organic bound chlorine, bromine and iodine in marine organisms was also found in the fat fraction. The organic bound chlorine and bromine based on known compounds constituted a small part of the total organic bound chlorine and bromine detected in river and marine sediment. The total organic bound halogen levels in river sediment were also found to be significantly higher than those in marine sediment.