Simultaneous analysis of 2,3,4,6‐tetrachloroanisole, pentachloroanisole and the corresponding chlorophenols in biological tissue

Abstract

Abstract A method has been developed for the analysis of 2,3,4,6‐tetrachloro‐ and pentachloroanisoles and the corresponding chlorophenols in biological extracts. Ethylation followed by separation of the preformed anisoles from the corresponding phenetoles (ethyl phenyl ethers) by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector provides a sensitive method of analysis. The extraction method of Likens and Nickerson, whilst satisfactory for the chloroanisoles in all the samples investigated, was not adequate for quantitative recovery of chlorophenols from muscle or fatty tissue. An alternative extraction method, not applicable to chloroanisoles, was satisfactory for muscle but was not suitable for skin or fatty tissue.