A method for the determination of PCB congeners 77, 126 and 169 in biotic and abiotic matrices.

An analytical protocol is described for the determination of the toxicologically important PCB congeners 77, 126 and 169 in a wide variety of matrices including human milk and adipose tissue, avian tissue, soil and sewage sludge. Utilising similar containment-enrichment, isotope-dilution principles to those employed in PCDD/F analysis, the method employs liquid chromatography on a Florisiltm microcolumn to separate PCDD/Fs and PCB congeners 77, 126 and 169 from the majority of o-substituted PCBs prior to GC-MS determination. The method is compatible with the analysis of such matrices for PCDDs and PCDFs