Comparative laboratory evaluation of some reported methods for the determination of DDT and BHC insecticides in human blood

Abstract

The relative efficiency of extraction of DDT, BHC and related insecticides from spiked serum samples by different methods is reported. The insecticide was extracted from the serum by using hexane or hexane-acetone (9 + 1) and then determined in the extract by gas-liquid chromatography using an electron-capture detector. The highest recoveries were obtained when the serum was treated with formic acid before extraction, lower values were obtained when sulphuric acid was used in place of formic acid and the lowest values were obtained when the untreated serum was extracted. Recoveries in general were higher when the hexane-acetone mixture was used in place of hexane. The order of extractability was γ-BHC > α-BHC > β-BHC > pp′-DDE > pp′-DDT > op′-DDT.