GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY ATOMIC-EMISSION DETECTION (GC-AED) SET-UP FOR BIO-MONITORING OF PCBS AND METHYLSULFONYL-PCBS

Gas chromatography-atomic emission detection (GC-AED) has been evaluated in order to determine the optimal conditions for chlorine and sulfur response of chlorinated biphenyls (CBs) and methylsulfonyl metabolites of CBs (MeSO(2)-CBs). The influence of the shape of the capillary column end facing the plasma, make-up gas flow, additional transfer line make-up gas flow and reagent gas flows on the detector response has been studied. Using an additional make-up gas flow applied through a transfer line capillary having a decreased outlet diameter yielded an increased detector response with minimum detectable levels for sulfur and chlorine of 1.7 and 20 pg, respectively. Further, a substantial decrease in peak tailing was achieved. The applicability of the method for analysis of biological materials is demonstrated by the determination of the main CB congeners present in human blood and of MeS0(2)-CBs in seal