The Analysis of Environmental Samples by Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract
Mass spectral analysis was carried out on shellfish samples taken in the vicinity of the Arrow oil spill at Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia. Oil samples were also analyzed, samples being obtained from the tanker and also from the beach. After extraction of the oil and shellfish samples, group separations were made into aliphatic, aromatic and oxygenated fractions, which were analyzed separately by mass spectrometry. The validity of the group separations was established, since, in the analysis of the so-called aliphatic fraction, no evidence of aromatics could be seen by mass spectrometry. On the other hand, polycyclic hydrocarbons were found in some of the aromatic fractions. Identification was based upon standard mass spectrometric analysis already performed on known examples of the polycyclics. It was concluded that the possibility of oil contamination can be confirmed by the mass spectrometric analysis of appropriate samples. It was also concluded that the so-called control samples should have been taken at a greater distance from the oil spill.