A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric approach for isomer-specific environmental monitoring of the 1700 bromo-, chloro-, and bromochloro-dibenzo-p-dioxins

A combined approach using gas chromatographic retention indices and mass spectrometric characteristics has been elaborated for the isomer-specific identification of the 1700 bromo-, chloro- and bromochloro-dioxins which may be found in the environment. Over 100 dioxins were synthesized to develop this approach. This environmental monitoring strategy allows qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the 2,3,7,8-substituted isomers, which are considered to be more toxic, and many of which have assigned toxicity equivalency factors.