Determination of Dioxins and Furans in Foods and Biological Tissues: Review and Update

Abstract

Determination of trace residues of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs and PCDFs) in various matrixes is carried out by a limited number of laboratories in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Current methods for analysis of foods and biological tissues include a combination of preparation, extraction, cleanup, isolation, determination, and identity confirmation procedures. Soxhlet, liquid/liquid, solid-phase, and column extraction procedures are used as well as treatment with acid or base before solvent extraction. Cleanup and isolation steps include sulfuric acid partitioning; adsorption chromatography on Florisil, silica gel, or alumina; gel permeation chromatography; multi-stage column chromatography on sulfuric acid silica and alkali silica; carbon column chromatography; and liquid chromatography fractionation with size exclusion, normal-phase, and reverse-phase columns. Activated carbon and multistage chromatographic columns are widely used in cleanup schemes. Isomer-specific identification and quantitation of PCDD and PCDF congeners at parts-per-trillion levels or lower are carried out by high resolution (capillary) gas chromatography (HRGC) and multiple ion detection mass spectrometry. In addition to chemical methods, bioassay procedures have been recommended (e.g., use of monoclonal antibodies, for immunoassay determination of PCDDs and PCDFs).