Residues of pentachlorophenol and other chlorinated contaminants in human tissues: analysis by electron capture gas chromatography and electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry.

Samples of human tissues including testes, kidneys, prostate glands, livers, and adipose tissues removed at autopsy were analyzed for pentachlorophenol (PCP) and nonachloro-2-phenoxyphenol (NCPP); the fat samples were also analyzed for other chlorinated contaminants. Electron capture gas chromatography was used to quantitate the residues after isolation and cleanup. Identity of the residues was confirmed by electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry. All tissues analyzed for PCP tested positive with a range from 0.007 ppm (microgram/g) in subcutaneous fat to 4.14 ppm in testis. Residues of NCPP were much lower, ranging from levels below the detection limit to 0.59 ppm in testis. The highest average residues, based on the lipid content of the tissue, of PCP (1.09 ppm) and of NCPP (0.19 ppm) were found in testis followed by kidney (0.95 ppm PCP), prostate (0.84 ppm PCP), and liver (0.59 ppm PCP). Residues of these chemicals in the adipose tissues were on the average about 40 times lower than the residues in the non-fatty tissues. Other chlorinated contaminants found in the subcutaneous fat included hexa-, hepta-, and octa-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins at sub-ppb levels and DDE averaging 2.47 ppm.