Enantiomer-specific analysis of hexabromocyclododecane in fish from Etnefjorden (Norway)

High-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was applied to sterospecifically quantify the content of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in six fish species from the Norwegian Etnefjorden. A combination of a beta-PM cyclodextrin and an achiral column enabled the paired chromatographic separation of the stereoisomers in the order (-)-alpha-, (+)-alpha-, (-)-beta-, (+)-beta-, (+)-gamma- and, (-)-gamma-HBCD. The limits of detection were in the range of 6-21 pg g(-1) depending on the stereoisomer and the concentrations of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-HBCD in fillets ranged from <5.4 ng g(-1) to 11.1 microg g(-1) lipid weight. alpha-HBCD enantiomers were throughout dominating, and in most cases the accumulation of the respective first eluted enantiomers ((-)-alpha-, (-)-beta- and (+)-gamma-HBCD) was observed. Deviations from the racemic EF-value were considered to be significant if it was outside of the expanded uncertainty range for each of the racemic HBCD-ratios. The composition of HBCD isomers varied between the investigated fish species and the relative high values for the gamma-HBCD concentrations for the bottom-dwellers flounder and thorny skate seems to echo the HBCD pattern of ocean sediments.