Determination of volatile halocarbons in raw and drinking water, human serum, and urine by electron capture GC.

A method for quantitative determination of volatile halocarbons in raw and drinking water, human serum, and urine is presented. Samples of water, serum, or urine were extracted in a single step with petroleum ether, and the extracts are, without further purification, analysed by high resolution gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD). Both external and internal calibrations were used to standardize the analytical system. External calibration is done with pure halocarbons in purified well water. Internal calibration is accomplished by spiking serum and urine samples with reference halocarbons between each of two successive extractions and GC runs. 1-iodobutane is used as internal standard, both in calibrations and actual determinations.