Trends in Analysis:
Evaluation of Bioanalytical Methods for Determining Dioxins and Related Compounds

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (referred to here as “dioxins”) are highly toxic and present in nearly all components of the global ecosystem. As a result, dioxins are compounds of concern for many site monitoring and exposure assessment studies. Analytical methods are the foundation of the site monitoring and exposure assessment process. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods are the current standard for analysis of dioxins and related compounds. However, effective on-site environmental monitoring often requires methods that are fast, inexpensive, and easy to perform. While HRMS methods are continually becoming faster and less expensive through the use of automated extraction and cleanup procedures, bioanalytical methods also offer advantages in speed, expense, and field portability. Quick, cost-effective field screening and monitoring techniques such as the bioanalytical methods coupled with conventional HRMS testing can increase the amount of information available to determine the presence and concentration of contaminants that might impact the environment and human health.

In a current project for the U.S. EPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory, Battelle is evaluating several bioanalytical methods to determine dioxins and related compounds for acceptable performance monitoring and human exposure studies. With our teaming partner, University of California, Davis, Battelle is reviewing available bioanalytical methods, optimizing laboratory-based bioanalytical methods to determine dioxins in multimedia samples, and evaluating a fieldportable enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for on-site screening of dioxins. The bioanalytical methods are being used to analyze realworld samples such as soil, sediment, and human blood, and the results of these analyses are being compared systematically to accepted HRMS analyses of the same matrices. These evaluations will assess the bioanalytical method robustness and applicability to environmental monitoring and/or human exposure studies.

Battelle has also recently won a task order to evaluate the performance of field test kits for dioxins in soil and sediment through an EPA Field Evaluation and Technical Support contract held by Battelle’s Enviromental Restoration product line. Field testing is expected to begin in the Spring of 2004.

For more information regarding dioxin testing with bioanalytical methods, please contact Jane Chuang at (614) 424-5222, chuangj@battelle.org. For more information on Battelle’s HRMS dioxin analysis capabilities, please contact Mary Schrock at (614) 424-4976, schrock@battelle.org.