Analysis of six relevant toxaphene congeners in biological samples using ion trap MS/MS

The quantification of six polychlorinated bornanes (CHBs) was studied using ion trap MS/MS. The significance of the selection of parent ions (I-p) and daughter ions (I-d) on the detection of these toxaphene congeners was assessed in standard solution and biological samples. Our results indicate that different I-p and I-d, selected at either low or high mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios, influence drastically the response factor of the CHBs and the chemical noise observed. For the octachlorinated toxaphene congeners (Parlar-26 (P-26), Parlar-40/41 (P-40/41), Parlar-44 (P-44)), the detection performance of the ion trap MS/MS is similar whether I-P and I-d were chosen at low or high m/z ratios. However, the selection of I-p and I-d at high m/z ratios clearly enhances the detection of the nonachlorinated toxaphene congeners (Parlar-50 (P-50), Parlar-62 (P-62)). The improved method, which selects I-p and I-d at low m/z ratios for P-26, P-40/41 and P-44 and at high m/z ratios for P-50 and P-62, permitted to obtain low detection limits as well as repeatable and accurate results. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.