Determination of halogenated contaminants in human adipose tissue

A method has been developed for determination of organochlorine contaminants in human adipose tissue. After fat extraction from the tissue with acetone-hexane (15 + 85, v/v), organochlorines were fractionated from fat by gel permeation chromatography with methylene chloride-cyclohexane (1 + 1, v/v) as solvent. After Florisil column cleanup, the GPC extract was analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography using 2 columns of different polarity. Compound identity was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Recoveries for fortification levels of 10-500 ng/g were greater than 80% except for trichlorobenzene and hexachlorobutadiene (ca 60%).