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Analytical Protocol (GC/ECNIMS) for OSWER's Response to OIG Report (2005-P-00022) on Toxaphene Analysis
Citation:
BRUMLEY, W. C. Analytical Protocol (GC/ECNIMS) for OSWER's Response to OIG Report (2005-P-00022) on Toxaphene Analysis. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
The OIG Report on Toxaphene requested specific responses from Region 4 and from OSW relative to the toxaphene issue. ECB has a long history of support to OSW for methods. The resulting protocol will allow more specific and more definitive determination of toxaphene at the site and will provide information that can draw upon toxicity information by specific congener and provide better risk estimates for various exposure routes. The resulting protocol will also assist Region 4 in complying with the recommendations of the OIG.
Description:
The research approached the large number and complexity of the analytes as four separate groups: technical toxaphene, toxaphene congeners (eight in number), chlordane, and organochlorine pesticides. This approach was advantageous because it eliminated potential interferences among the many analytes with each other and made the analysis simpler for users. Only DDD, DDE, and DDT were found to be insensitive to NIMS. The protocol was tested on spiked soil and then subjected to a clean matrix precision test with an intra-laboratory study by three independent analyses. The approach also allows the analytes of a given group to be determined in a single monitoring window, greatly simplifying the methodology and eliminating the need to define retention windows for the monitoring of a limited number of analytes. The complex issue of separations of all congeners of toxaphene and choice of specific cleanups was left to guidance in Method 8081a and other sections of SW-846. Thus, GC/NIMS can act in a complementary fashion to GC/ECD that is already being practiced in the Region or completely replace it at the discretion of the analyst.