skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Temporal changes in purity and specific activity of tritium-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Radiopurity model for toxicology

Abstract

The specific activity (S) and radiopurity (R) of tritium labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, [{sub 3}H]TCDD, were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) while attempting to accurately characterized TCDD doses received by invertebrates, fish, and fish embryos during several toxicology studies conducted over a 3 year period. The [{sub 3}H]TCDD sample was found to consist of six TCDD analogues involving hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium substitution at the 1,6-dibenzo-p-dioxin carbon positions and a complex mixture of impurities (with and without tritium labels). Planar aromatic impurities were identified a tolyl-TCDD adducts and appeared to result from the decay of {sub 3}H radiolabels to produce TCDD carbocations which reacted with the solvent, toluene. Formation of TriCDD and tolyl-TriCDDs, from both TCDD and tolyl-TCDDs, probably resulted from radiolysis-induced loss of a chlorine to form TriCDD free radicals which reacted with toluene. The measurement of S for [{sub 3}H]TCDD by GC/MS was accurate and precise ({+-}3%) because relative, rather than absolute, amounts of the analogues were determined. Changes in S over time were accurately modeled as a function of the conversion of each [{sub 3}H]TCDD analogue to a solvent-TCDD analogue at a rate determined by {sub 3}H loss due to decay. Storage, purification, and use of tritiated chemicalsmore » for toxicology studies requires consideration of the {sub 3}H decay-related phenomena. For example, hydroxylated TCDD is an expected decay reaction product of [{sub 3}H]TCDD in tissues and may be misidentified as a metabolite.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (US)
OSTI Identifier:
20000730
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 33; Journal Issue: 20; Other Information: PBD: 15 Oct 1999; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; WATER POLLUTION; DIOXIN; TRITIUM COMPOUNDS; TRACER TECHNIQUES; TOXICITY; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Citation Formats

Fernandez, J D, Cook, P M, Butterworth, B C, and Bradbury, S P. Temporal changes in purity and specific activity of tritium-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Radiopurity model for toxicology. United States: N. p., 1999. Web. doi:10.1021/es990239j.
Fernandez, J D, Cook, P M, Butterworth, B C, & Bradbury, S P. Temporal changes in purity and specific activity of tritium-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Radiopurity model for toxicology. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es990239j
Fernandez, J D, Cook, P M, Butterworth, B C, and Bradbury, S P. 1999. "Temporal changes in purity and specific activity of tritium-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Radiopurity model for toxicology". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es990239j.
@article{osti_20000730,
title = {Temporal changes in purity and specific activity of tritium-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Radiopurity model for toxicology},
author = {Fernandez, J D and Cook, P M and Butterworth, B C and Bradbury, S P},
abstractNote = {The specific activity (S) and radiopurity (R) of tritium labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, [{sub 3}H]TCDD, were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) while attempting to accurately characterized TCDD doses received by invertebrates, fish, and fish embryos during several toxicology studies conducted over a 3 year period. The [{sub 3}H]TCDD sample was found to consist of six TCDD analogues involving hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium substitution at the 1,6-dibenzo-p-dioxin carbon positions and a complex mixture of impurities (with and without tritium labels). Planar aromatic impurities were identified a tolyl-TCDD adducts and appeared to result from the decay of {sub 3}H radiolabels to produce TCDD carbocations which reacted with the solvent, toluene. Formation of TriCDD and tolyl-TriCDDs, from both TCDD and tolyl-TCDDs, probably resulted from radiolysis-induced loss of a chlorine to form TriCDD free radicals which reacted with toluene. The measurement of S for [{sub 3}H]TCDD by GC/MS was accurate and precise ({+-}3%) because relative, rather than absolute, amounts of the analogues were determined. Changes in S over time were accurately modeled as a function of the conversion of each [{sub 3}H]TCDD analogue to a solvent-TCDD analogue at a rate determined by {sub 3}H loss due to decay. Storage, purification, and use of tritiated chemicals for toxicology studies requires consideration of the {sub 3}H decay-related phenomena. For example, hydroxylated TCDD is an expected decay reaction product of [{sub 3}H]TCDD in tissues and may be misidentified as a metabolite.},
doi = {10.1021/es990239j},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20000730}, journal = {Environmental Science and Technology},
issn = {0013-936X},
number = 20,
volume = 33,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1999},
month = {Fri Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1999}
}