DETERMINATION OF SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL AROMATIC-AMINES IN FISH

A procedure is described for the determination of selected industrial aromatic amines in fish. Ground fish tissue is digested with aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with benzene. The extract is washed with dilute acid and cleaned up using gel permeation chromatography. The amines are separated and quantitated using nitrogen-selective gas-liquid chromatography. Recoveries of N-ethyl-N-phenylben-zylamine, N-ethyl-.N-(m-tolyl)benzylamine, N,.N-dibenzyl-methylamine, diphenylamine, and N-phenyl-1-naphthyl-amine from fish tissue fortified at levels of 20-100 ppb (µg/kg) averaged at least 80%. Recoveries of 1-naphthylamine and 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine were somewhat lower. Fish samples obtained from rivers near nine textile and dyestuff manufacturers known to use certain aromatic amines have been analyzed. 1-Naphthylamine was detected in fish from the Buffalo and Delaware Rivers downstream from two dyestuff manufacturers. N-Ethyl-N-phenylbenzylamine and N-ethyl-Ar-(m-tolyl)benzylamine were also detected in the Buffalo River fish. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.