Baseline isotopic data of polyhalogenated compounds

The δ²H- and δ¹³C-values of polyhalogenated compounds were determined by EA-IRMS. Most of the compounds were related to the chloropesticides DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexanes, and toxaphene, as well as several polybrominated compounds such as bromophenols and -anisoles. δ²H-values ranged between −235‰ and +75‰ whereas δ¹³C-values were found in the range −22‰ to −38‰. No correlation between δ²H- and δ¹³C-values could be identified. Comparative analysis clarified that bromophenols and the corresponding bromoanisoles may vary in their isotopic distribution. ²H NMR was used to quantify abundances of ²H isotopomers. Quantification of isotopomers of 2,4-dibromophenol and 2,4-dibromoanisole proved that both compounds from different suppliers do not originate from the same source. Differences in the δ²H-values of two toxaphene products were further investigated by the synthesis of products of different degree of chlorination from camphene. It was shown that the δ¹³C-values remained mostly unaltered as was expected since no carbon is lost in this procedure. However, the reaction products became enriched in ²H with increasing degree of chlorination. Different δ²H-values of the starting material will also impact the δ²H-values of the chlorination products.