Simplified gas chromatographic analysis of pesticides from blood

Abstract

A rapid method for the extraction and identification of 23 pesticides present in blood is described. The pesticides are extracted from blood with a mixture of acetone and ethyl ether in equal volumes. The extracts are evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in a known quantity of hexane and an aliquot injected directly into the gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. No purification of the acetone-ether extract is required. A glass column packed with 5% SE 52 on hexamethyldisilizane-treated chromosorb W 60/80 is used at a temperature of 190°. The method was successfully applied to blood from laboratory animals to which acute doses of six of the most common pesticides were given orally. The quantity of pesticides found is reported.