Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8560327· OSTI ID:6337387

Luotamo, M; Jaervisalo, J; Aitio, A

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widely dispersed in the environment. Occupational exposure to PCBs takes place, e.g., in manufacture and repair of capacitors and transformers. A special type of exposure of workers to PCBs may occur in connection with accidents where capacitors or transformers containing PCBs products are damaged, as in the case of a fire or electric arcing. The quantitation of PCBs poses several problems: there are 209 different homologs and isomers of PCBs. The isomers of PCBs have different responses in the electron capture detector, and the pattern of PCBs in biological specimens is different from that of commercial products. In this study a method was worked out for the analysis of PCBs in serum with the purpose of estimating occupation exposure to PCBs. Capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection was used. For separation, temperature programming was used.

• Research Organization: Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
• OSTI ID: 6337387
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 60; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BLOOD SERUM
CAPACITORS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FIRES
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
MEASURING METHODS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSFORMERS