Analysis of UNEP Priority POPs Using HRGC-HRMS and Their Contamination Profiles in Livers and Eggs of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Japan

Abstract

The present investigation demonstrates establishment of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) priority Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) using high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Particularly, POPs analytical methods were established using native and (13)C-labeled internal standards of HCHs, HCB, cyclodienes, chlordanes, DDTs, mirex, dioxin-like PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs by isotope dilution technique. The relative response factor for 6-point calibration curve native standards (18 replicate analysis) were in the ranges of 0.93-1.43 with relative standard deviation ranges from 1.68 to 4.96%. Instrument detection limit and instrument quantification limit was established for various POPs at femtograms. Concentrations of UNEP-POPs were measured in liver (n = 10) and egg (n = 10) of great cormorants and their major diet, gizzard shad (n = 2), collected in and around Tokyo, Japan. DDTs (ranges in liver and egg, respectively) were predominant accumulants (9800-310,000 and 9600-73,000) followed by dioxin-like PCBs (4500-69,000 and 7900-150,000), chlordanes (2600-16,000 and 700-4,800), cyclodienes (650-4600 and <1-1000), HCB (680-2800 and 180-590), HCHs (230-1800 and 120-490), PCDD/DFs (3.2-27 and 1.7-5.7) on nanogram per gram lipid basis. Concentrations (ranges) of POPs in gizzard shad were in the following order: DDTs (3900-16,000), chlordanes (3400-14,000), cyclodienes (340-1300), HCB (110-480), and HCHs (140-360) on nanogram per gram lipid basis.