杭州市冬季大气气溶胶PM2.5中二恶英和多氯联苯的污染特征

2014年1月在杭州市选择5个点位采集大气颗粒物PM_2.5样品,采用同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱测定PM_2.5中的二恶英（PCDD/Fs）和多氯联苯（PCBs）,对PM_2.5的污染状况以及PM_2.5中PCDD/Fs和PCBs的污染水平及分布特征进行了研究。PM_2.5的质量浓度范围为85~168 μg/m³,PM_2.5污染较重,但与2004年同期相比明显降低。PM_2.5中PCDD/Fs的毒性当量（TEQ）为0.277~0.488 pg I-TEQ/m³,明显高于2004年同期采集样品。颗粒物中PCDD/Fs以八氯代二苯并-对-二恶英（OCDD）为主,毒性当量主要贡献者为2,3,4,7,8-五氯代二苯并呋喃（2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF）。PM_2.5中PCBs的质量浓度范围为2.9~8.1 pg/m³,二恶英类多氯联苯（DL-PCBs）的毒性当量范围为2.6~6.1 fg WHO-TEQ/m³,污染较低。PCBs在颗粒物中分布以PCB-28为主,但对毒性当量贡献最大的为PCB-126。PCDD/Fs和PCBs的气-固分配特征表现为PCDD/Fs主要分布于颗粒物中,而PCBs主要分布于气相中。     

Pressurized liquid extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls from contaminated soil

Extraction solvents for pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) used to extract polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) from contaminated soil were investigated. The PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs in Certified Reference Material: CRM 0422 (Forest soil) were extracted using toluene, n-hexane, acetone, acetone/toluene and acetone/n-hexane (1:1, v/v). Soxhlet extraction was the reference method. Results demonstrated that PLE using mixed solvents produced better analyte recoveries than the single solvents. However, these results were lower than those for Soxhlet extraction. Additional extraction cycles using mixed solvents achieved better recovery results. Mixed solvents and several extraction cycles were necessary for satisfactory extraction of more tightly bound PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs from soil.     

Development of new cleanup method of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans in fish by freezing-lipid filtration

Freezing-lipid filtration as a new method has been developed for the rapid determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) in biological samples. This method can effectively reduce the time of sample pretreatment, labor and amount of solvents compared with conventional methods. By freezing-lipid filtration procedure, about 90% of lipids in extract could be removed without any significant loss of PCDD/Fs. For further cleanup of extracts after freezing-lipid filtration, automatic parallel LC columns including silica gel, alumina and carbon columns were applied. During automatic parallel LC columns cleanup, most of co-extracted interferences such as residue lipids and fatty acids could be eliminated and dioxins could be separated from many other dioxin-like congeners such as polychlorinated biphenyls by this procedure. The extracts after cleanup were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC)/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) using an isotope dilution method. The average recoveries and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 17 native congeners in the spiked fish samples at 8-80 pg/g (n = 3) were ranged between 85.3 and 117.2% and 5.7-20.3%, respectively.     

Method development for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in single extract of sediment samples

A comprehensive method was developed for quantitative analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) in one single extract of environmental samples. The sample preparation procedure included two fractionation steps using silver nitrate silica chromatography to separate PBDEs from PCBs and PCDD/Fs and florisil column to separate PCBs from PCDD/Fs. Acidic silica, acidic alumina and gel permeation chromatography (GPC, for PCBs) or activated carbon column (for PCDD/Fs) were used for further clean-up. The sample extracts were analyzed by using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The entire method was validated from the analysis of mixed standards of PBDEs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs (n = 3); the analysis of certified reference biota (WMF-01). The method was applied for the analysis of 10 sediment samples collected from Haihe River and Dagu Drainage River in Tianjin City. No significant PBDEs pollution was found in the areas.     

Fluorescence-based assay with enzyme amplification on a micro-flow immunosensor chip for monitoring coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls

Detection of pollutants is of significant importance for environmental protection. However, conventional monitoring methods are often time-consuming, and require expensive equipments. Biosensors based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) provide an alternative method to conventional ones. In this research, the reduction in the size of ELISA utilizing micro-chemical reaction is described in a micro-flow immunosensor chip. The immunosensor chips were fabricated by micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology. The quantitative determination of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) was performed by using a micro-flow immunosensor chip. Polystyrene beads were used as the solid substrate for the immobilization of Co-PCB antibody. The antibody-immobilized beads were introduced into the flow channel. As a competitive ELISA, sample solution mixed with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated antigen, and non-HRP conjugated antigen was allowed to react in the flow channel. After the antigen-antibody reaction, addition of phosphate buffer solution containing hydrogen peroxide and the fluorogenic substrate produced a fluorescent dye, which was monitored with the resulting change in the fluorescence intensity. By using our micro-flow immunosensor chip, it was possible to determine the sensing range of Co-PCB derivatives up to 0.1 ppt in 30 s. This immunosensor chip had a wide linear range for Co-PCB detection from 0.1 pg/ml to 1.0 μg/ml. The regression analysis provided the correlation coefficients of r = 0.982−0.964 with good reproducibility and precision. In a series of five measurements with immunosensor chips prepared with a new batch of antibody-immobilized polystyrene beads, a relative standard deviation of 21.3% was obtained. Our immunosensor chip design reported here has the potential to be implemented to several different detection methodologies for numerous analytes.     

Simultaneous extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls from contaminated soil using pressurized liquid extraction

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was studied for simultaneous extractions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), and of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) from a tightly bounded condition in the soil matrix. Temperatures were maintained at 175 and 200 degrees C, respectively, and two or three static cycles for single PLE with toluene and acetone/n-hexane were studied using a certified reference material to compare the effects of those conditions on recoveries. A single PLE with two static cycles at 150 degrees C and the repeated single PLE (additional PLE) were reference methods. Satisfactory recoveries were not obtained using tested single PLE (2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs average, average (avg.) 79-103%), but they were achieved using additional PLE (acetone/n-hexane, avg. 115-128%; toluene, avg. 111-132%). In addition, these methods and additional PLE of the reference method using acetone/n-hexane were not markedly different (avg. 123-128%). That fact suggests that the use of mixed solvents and additional PLE were more important factors than temperatures and static cycles of single PLE for quantitative and simultaneous extractions of those compounds from the soil.     

Triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry: A real alternative to high resolution magnetic sector instrument for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls

This paper reports on the optimisation, characterisation, validation and applicability of gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in its tandem operation mode (GC-QqQ(MS/MS) for the quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs, dioxins) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in environmental and food matrices. MS/MS parameters were selected to achieve the high sensitivity and selectivity required for the analysis of this type of compounds and samples. Good repeatability for areas (RSD = 1–10%, for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs) and for ion transition ratios (RSD = 0.3–10%, for PCDD/Fs, and 0.2–15%, for DL-PCBs) and low instrumental limits of detection, 0.07–0.75 pg μL⁻¹ (for dioxins) and 0.05–0.63 pg μL⁻¹ (for DL-PCBs), were obtained. A comparative study of the congener specific determination using both GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was also performed by analysing several fortified samples and certified reference materials (CRMs) with low (feed and foodstuffs), median (sewage sludge) and high (fly ash) toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentration levels, i.e. 0.60, 1.83, 72.9 and 3609 pg WHO-TEQ(PCDD/Fs) g⁻¹. The agreement between the results obtained for the total TEQs (dioxins) on GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and GC-HRMS in all the investigated samples were within the range of ±4%, and that of DL-PCBs at concentration levels of 0.84 pg WHO-TEQs (DL-PCBs) g⁻¹, in the case of feedstuffs, was 0.11%. Both instrumental methods have similar and comparable linearity, precision and accuracy. The GC-QqQ(MS/MS) sensitivity, lower than that of GC-HRMS, is good enough (iLODs in the down to low pg levels) to detect the normal concentrations of these compounds in food and environmental samples. These results make GC-QqQ(MS/MS) suitable for the quantitative analysis of dioxins and DL-PCBs and a real alternative tool to the reference sector HRMS instruments.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated naphthalenes concentrated on semipermeable membrane devices

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has been evaluated as an alternative to dialysis for the extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) sampled by semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS).For MAE optimization a two level full factorial design 2³, plus a centre point, which involves 11 randomized runs was used. The results showed that the temperature had a significant influence on the extraction of the nine PBDEs and four PCNs tested. Also, the solvent volume had a positive influence on the extraction of PBDEs and PCNs, but only in latter compounds, it achieves statistical significance. The time had only statistical significance for the most volatile specie studied, PCN-54. The selected MAE conditions (60 mL of hexane-acetone, 1:1 (v/v), 85 °C, 1 min, two cycles) lead to recoveries between 72 and 91% for PBDEs and between 96 and 103% for PCNs. The applicability of the MAE extraction was tested in field SPMDs deployed for 20 days in a sewage treatment plant.The MAE method developed is about 300 times faster than the conventional dialysis and remarkably reduces the solvent consumption.     

同位素稀释的气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用测定食品中二噁英和共平面多氯联苯

采用HRGC/HRMS和同位素稀释定量技术对样品中17种4~8个氯原子取代的二噁英和呋喃(PCDDs/Fs)与12种共平面多氯联苯(PCBs)定量分析。样品经索式抽提、FMSPowerPrep系统净化、浓缩,利用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用仪的多离子检测方式,同位素稀释技术对样品中的目标化合物进行定性和定量。该方法的检出限为pg/g水平。13C同位素内标回收率范围为47%~100%。对3个CRM鱼样中17个PCDDs/Fs和4个PCBs的检测值均在标准定值允许误差范围内。对5个不同的实际样品鱼进行测定表明,样品的回收率在48%~100%之间,回收率的相对标准偏差小于20%;对同一样品进行定量检测的精密度测试结果表明,17种PCDDs/Fs浓度的RSD低于16%,12种PCBs浓度的RSD低于11%。本方法定量分析重现性良好。     

Computer-assisted peak recognition for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in environmental samples

A software has been developed for the peak recognition of 136 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) after high resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Based on the retention times of ¹³C labelled 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/F internal standards, the retention times of all PCDD and PCDF can be calibrated automatically and accurately. Therefore, it is very convenient to identify the peaks by comparing the retention of samples and the calibrated retention times of their chromatograms. Hence, this approach is very significant because it is impossible to obtain always a standard chromatogram and PCDD/F analysis are very expensive and time consuming. The calibration results can be transferred to Excel for calculation. The approach is a first step to store costly and environmentally relevant data for future application.     

Determination of selected polychlorinated biphenyls in soil by miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass-selective detection

Miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction procedure was developed for the determination of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil samples by gas chromatography-mass-selective detection by using 2³ factorial experimental design. Recoveries of PCBs from fortified soil samples are over 90% for three different fortification levels between 40 and 120 μg kg⁻¹, and relative standard deviations of the recoveries are below 7%. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.003 to 0.006 μg kg⁻¹. The performance of the proposed method was compared to traditional shake flask extraction method on the spiked real soil sample and extraction methods showed comparable efficiencies. Proposed miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction offers several advantages, i.e., reducing sample requirement for measurement of target compound, less solvent consumption and reducing the costs associated with solvent purchase and waste disposal.     

Simultaneous measurement of trace monoadenosine and diadenosine monophosphate in biomimicking prebiotic synthesis using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry characterization

The method for simultaneous separation and determination of trace monoadenosine and diadenosine monophosphate (i.e. 2′-AMP, 3′-AMP, 5′-AMP and 3′-5′ ApA) in biomimicking prebiotic synthesis was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) identification. The separation was performed on a Supelco C₁₈ column with a gradient elution (solvent A: 10 mM NH₄Ac aqueous solution; solvent B: MeOH). The flow rate was set at 1.0 ml/min. The quantitative determination was achieved by HPLC with UV detection at 260 nm. The linearity ranged from 0.5 to 100 μg/ml for each nucleotide. The limits of detection (LODs) for the four nucleotides were less than 0.30 μg/ml. The recovery ranged from 95.2 to 100.7%. The intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the retention times were between 0.7 and 1.1%. Both full-scan ESI-MS and -MS² for the four nucleotides under both positive and negative polarity were carried out and the possible cleavage pathways of them were depicted. The specific ions, [AMP + H]⁺ at m/z 348 and [ApA + H]⁺ at m/z 597, were chosen to characterize the four nucleotides in biomimicking prebiotic synthesis between N-(O,O-diisopropyl) phosphoryl amino acid (Dipp-aa) and adenosine. Using the proposed HPLC/UV/ESI-MS method, the concentration of 2′-AMP, 3′-AMP, 5′-AMP and 3′-5′ ApA in the biomimicking prebiotic synthesis samples were determined.     

Combined microwave-assisted isolation and solid-phase purification procedures prior to the chromatographic determination of phenolic compounds in plant materials

A fast, sensitive and selective procedure employing a combination of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) was applied prior to liquid chromatographic identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in plant materials. MAE has been tested and optimized for the isolation of phenolic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, vanilic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, benzoic, m-coumaric, o-coumaric, rosmarinic, cinnamic acids) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, syringaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and vanillin in various plants. The effects of experimental conditions on MAE efficiency, such as solvent composition, temperature, extraction time, have been studied. The extraction efficiencies were compared with those obtained by computer-controlled, two-step Soxhlet-like extractions. Plant extracts were purified and phenolic compounds were pre-concentrated using SPE on polymeric RP-105 SPE sorbent prior to HPLC analysis. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Hypersil BDS C₁₈ column using a mobile phase consisted of 0.3% (v/v) acetic acid in water (solvent A) and methanol (solvent B) at flow rate 0.6 ml min⁻¹ and column temperature 30 °C with gradient elution.     

Determination of synthetic phenolic antioxidants and their metabolites in water samples by downscaled solid-phase extraction,silylation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The development and performance evaluation of an analytical method dedicated to the comprehensive determination of the most relevant antioxidants and their metabolites in aqueous environmental samples is presented. This was achieved by a miniaturised solid-phase extraction (SPE) with 10 mg Oasis HLB cartridges, which allow to achieve a concentration factor of 200, reducing organic solvent wastes (1 mL of ethyl acetate suffices for complete elution) and SPE costs and eliminating the need for solvent evaporation that otherwise compromises the recoveries of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and 2,6-di-tert-butylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (BHT-Q). Analytes were then determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) after derivatisation with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) in a single run. BHT-d₇ and n-propyl-paraben-d₄ (PrP-d₄) were used as surrogate internal standards. These surrogates allowed obtaining relative recoveries in the 80–110% range for all analytes even with complex wastewater samples and LODs at the 2–44 ng L⁻¹ level taking into account blank issues often associated to antioxidants analysis. The method was applied to sewage and river waters, showing that the seven analytes could be detected in raw wastewater. BHT and BHT-Q were the most concentrated species in that type of sample (in the 275–871 ng L⁻¹ range). On the other hand two metabolites of BHT, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (BHT-CHO) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (BHT-COOH) appeared to be the most ubiquitous species, being found in all samples in the 10–150 ng L⁻¹ concentration range.     

Determination of solubility parameters of cross-linked macromonomeric initiators based on polypropylene glycol

A new type macromonomeric azo initiators also named macroinimers, MIMs, based on polypropylene glycol, PPG, with molecular weight 400 and 2000, were synthesized. Self-condensing radical polymerization of the macroinimers gave cross-linked polypropylene glycols. The solubility parameters of the cross-linked polymers determined using swelling experiments in a series of solvents have been reported. Crosss-linked PPG-400 and cross-linked PPG-2000 indicated the same solubility parameter value. But their swelling ratios were different because of the differences of the chain lengths in between of the cross-points (Mc) of the gels. Therefore, while the largest swelling ratio exhibited by a cross-linked PPG-2000 in tetrahydrofurane was being 19.48, this ratio was 6.84 for the cross-linked PPG-400 in the same solvent. The solubility parameters and constant α for these cross-linked polymers were obtained as δ_{cross-linked PPG-400} = 9.56 (cal cm⁻³)^1/2, α = 0.123 cm³ cal⁻¹ and δ_{cross-linked PPG-2000} = 8.95 (cal cm⁻³)^1/2, α = 0.107 cm³ cal⁻¹ by using the least squares regression method.     

Near-ultraviolet femtosecond laser ionization of dioxins in gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography/multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/MPI/TOF-MS) was applied to the trace analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). To determine the optimum wavelength for analysis of PCDD/Fs, the wavelength of the femtosecond laser utilized for multiphoton ionization was converted to near-ultraviolet status using stimulated Raman scattering. A femtosecond laser emitting at 300 nm completely eliminated the background signal arising from the bleeding compounds generated from a stationary phase of the capillary column in GC.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of cis-platin as platinum(II) in pharmaceutical preparation, serum and urine samples of cancer patients

Spectrophotometric and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed for the determination of cis-platin and carboplatin based on the pre-column derivatization of platinum(II) with 2-acetylpyridine-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone. The complex was extracted in chloroform with molar absorptivity of 2.2 × 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 380 nm. The complex eluted from a Phenomenex C-18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) column with methanol:water:acetonitrile:tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (1 mM) (44:30:25:1, v/v/v/v) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 260 nm. Ruthenium(IV) and selenium(IV) also separated completely. The linear calibration curve was with 0.5-12.5 μg/ml and detection limit of 10 ng/ml platinum(II).The analysis of cis-platin and carboplatin injections by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods indicated relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 0.66-2.1%. The method was used for the determinations of cis-platin in serum and urine of cancer patients after chemotherapy and platinum contents were found 148-444 and 50-90 ng/ml with R.S.D. of 0.3-3.0 and 0.6-2.4% for the serum and urine, respectively. The recovery of platinum(II) from serum was 97% with R.S.D. 2.2%.     

Optimization of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of dioxin-furans and dioxin-like PCBs from environmental samples

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) applying three extraction cycles, temperature and pressure, improved the efficiency of solvent extraction when compared with the classical Soxhlet extraction. Polychlorinated-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like PCBs (coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs)) in two Certified Reference Materials [DX-1 (sediment) and BCR 529 (soil)] and in two contaminated environmental samples (sediment and soil) were extracted by ASE and Soxhlet methods. Unlike data previously reported by other authors, results demonstrated that ASE using n-hexane as solvent and three extraction cycles, 12.4 MPa (1800 psi) and 150 degrees C achieves similar recovery results than the classical Soxhlet extraction for PCDFs and Co-PCBs, and better recovery results for PCDDs. ASE extraction, performed in less time and with less solvent proved to be, under optimized conditions, an excellent extraction technique for the simultaneous analysis of PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs from environmental samples. Such fast analytical methodology, having the best cost-efficiency ratio, will improve the control and will provide more information about the occurrence of dioxins and the levels of toxicity and thereby will contribute to increase human health.     

Part-per-trillion determination of chlorobenzenes in water using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined gas chromatography-electron capture detection

In this study, a simple, rapid and efficient method, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD), for the determination of chlorobenzenes (CBs) in water samples, has been described. This method involves the use of an appropriate mixture of extraction solvent (9.5 μl chlorobenzene) and disperser solvent (0.50 ml acetone) for the formation of cloudy solution in 5.00 ml aqueous sample containing analytes. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and the enriched analytes in sedimented phase were determined by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Our simple conditions were conducted at room temperature with no stiring and no salt addition in order to minimize sample preparation steps. Parameters such as the kind and volume of extraction solvent, the kind and volume of disperser solvent, extraction time and salt effect, were studied and optimized. The method exhibited enrichment factors and recoveries ranging from 711 to 813 and 71.1 to 81.3%, respectively, within very short extraction time. The linearity of the method ranged from 0.05 to 100 μg l⁻¹ for dichlorobenzene isomers (DCB), 0.002-20 μg l⁻¹ for trichlorobenzene (TCB) and tetrachlorobenzene (TeCB) isomers and from 0.001 to 4 μg l⁻¹ for pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). The limit of detection was in the low μg l⁻¹ level, ranging between 0.0005 and 0.05 μg l⁻¹. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) for the concentration of DCB isomers, 5.00 μg l⁻¹, TCB and TeCB isomers, 0.500 μg l⁻¹, PeCB and HCB 0.100 μg l⁻¹ in water by using the internal standard were in the range of 0.52-2.8% (n = 5) and without the internal standard were in the range of 4.6-6.0% (n = 5). The relative recoveries of spiked CBs at different levels of chlorobenzene isomers in tap, well and river water samples were 109-121%, 105-113% and 87-120%, respectively. It is concluded that this method can be successfully applied for the determination of CBs in tap, river and well water samples.