Comprehensive characterization of the halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran contents of residential fire debris using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry

Kari L Organtini; Anne L Myers; Karl J Jobst; Jack Cochran; Brian Ross; Brian McCarry; Eric J Reiner; Frank L Dorman

doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2014.09.088

Comprehensive characterization of the halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran contents of residential fire debris using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry

J Chromatogr A. 2014 Nov 21:1369:138-46. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.09.088. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

Authors

Kari L Organtini¹, Anne L Myers², Karl J Jobst³, Jack Cochran⁴, Brian Ross⁵, Brian McCarry⁶, Eric J Reiner⁷, Frank L Dorman⁸

Affiliations

¹ Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Whitmore Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
² Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3H6.
³ Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, ON, Canada M9P 3V6; Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4M1.
⁴ Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Whitmore Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Restek Corporation, 110 Benner Circle, Bellefonte, PA 16823, USA.
⁵ Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute, P.O. Box 6031, 2025 Courtneypark Drive East, Toronto, ON, Canada L5P 1B2.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4M1.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3H6; Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, ON, Canada M9P 3V6.
⁸ Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Whitmore Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: fld3@psu.edu.

PMID: 25441081
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.09.088

Abstract

A comprehensive approach was taken to characterize the polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran contents of fire debris. Household and electronics fire simulations were performed to create samples representative of those firefighters most typically come in contact with. Sample analysis was performed using GC×GC-TOFMS to provide a comprehensive profile of the halogenated dioxins and furans present among the two types of fire debris. Both the household fire and electronics fire simulations produced a significant amount of polybrominated dibenzofurans. Only the electronics rich fire simulation produced mixed halogenated (Br/Cl) dibenzofurans in amounts above the limit of detection of the analytical method. Of the mixed halogenated dibenzofurans identified, a majority were those having no commercially available standard to allow for specific congener identification. GC×GC-TOFMS was extremely beneficial for the identification of compound classes due to the manner in which compounds classify in the two-dimensional chromatographic plane, thus aiding data reduction for these materials.

Keywords: Dibenzo-p-dioxins; Dibenzofurans; GC×GC-TOFMS; Mixed halogenated; PXDD/F.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis
Benzofurans / analysis*
Benzofurans / chemistry
Dioxins / analysis*
Dioxins / chemistry
Electrons
Fires
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
Halogenation

Substances

Air Pollutants
Benzofurans
Dioxins
dibenzofuran
dibenzo(1,4)dioxin