Gas chromatographic analysis of emerging and persistent environmental contaminants

Abstract Gas chromatography is a prominent technique for the separation and detection of emerging and persistent environmental contaminants. It is generally the preferred technique for the analysis of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (dioxins), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), halogenated flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Their environmental impact assessment frequently requires high resolution separation of isomers and congeners and selective and sensitive detection, typically by mass spectrometry. This chapter describes the main approaches to extraction from typical matrices, selection of appropriate separation and confirmation techniques, and detection strategies.