Screening by negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for environmental contamination with toxic residues: Application to human urines.

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Abstract
A screening procedure based on solvent extraction with minimal clean up followed by examination with negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry was developed for organochlorine residues and related compounds with masses greater than 130 daltons. The procedure was made quantitative for analysis of pentachlorophenol residues. A limited survey of human urines indicated extensive contamination of the subjects, studied at parts per billion and higher levels, with pentachlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid, other polychlorophenoxy acids and numerous unknown compounds. To define the source of the contamination, the screening procedure was applied to samples of environmental substrates. The food chain as 1 significant source of the contamination is suggested. A preliminary study of organochlorine compounds in human seminal fluid showed pentachlorophenol and other organochlorine residues in every sample, a result which suggests that this area may merit additional monitoring.