SOLID PHASE DISK EXTRACTION METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE POLLUTANTS IN HUMAN BODY FLUIDS

Solid-phase disk extraction (SPDE) was developed and evaluated for the isolation and concentration of trace levels of selected persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) from human body fluids (serum, cord blood, milk, follicular and seminal fluid). Similar methodology could be used for each matrix, the only restricting factor being the viscosity of the fluid. An Empore(TM) C-18 bonded silica extraction disk cartridge was used for the initial extraction and enrichment of the analytes. Subsequent clean-up of the SPDE eluate was achieved by adsorption chromatography on concentrated sulphuric acid: silica gel (1:1, w/w). Analysis on two different capillary columns was done by GC-ECD and GC-MS. Recoveries of internal standards calculated from each fluid were ranging from 48% (follicular fluid) to 75% (human milk) and a relatively good reproducibility (RSD<17%) was demonstrated.