Routine Determination of Mirex and Photomirex in Fish Tissue in the Presence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Abstract

A procedure for the routine determination of Mirex and Photomirex in fish tissue is described which provides rapid analysis and confirmation using conventional gas chromatographic/electron capture detection (GC/ECD) methods. Coeluting intereferences (i.e. PCB's) are nitrated al lowing for simple separation from Mirex analogs by column chromatography. In Chinook SaImon tissue (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), PCB removaI averaged 78% and Mirex and Photomirex recoveries were 91% and 86%, respectively. The method has been used successfully for trace analysis of Mirex levels as low as 100 pg.