A one-step extraction and clean-up procedure before gas-liquid chromatographic determination of some organochlorine pesticide residues in blood

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are described for the extraction and clean-up of organochlorine pesticides, e. g., DDT, DDE, α-and γ-BHC (lindane) and dieldrin, from heparin-treated and lyophilised blood samples for gas-chromatographic determinations. Extraction and clean-up are carried out in one step on a suitable column with amounts of solvent as small as 25 to 30 ml. Two types of column are used according to the type of organochlorine pesticide to be determined; for acid-stable substances a sulphuric acid-diatomaceous earth column is used, and for alkali-stable pesticides an alkaline column, on which saponification of fat takes place simultaneously with extraction. The method has been applied successfully in worker as well as in general population surveys.