Chlorinated dioxins and furans
Dioxins are a collective term for chlorinated dioxins and furans with a similar chemical structure. In total, the group of dioxins consists of 75 polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDD) and 135 polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) (also PCDD/PCDF), and they are always present as mixtures of individual compounds (congeners) with different compositions.
It is assumed that the various dioxins have the same toxic mechanisms of action and differ only in the strength of their effect. This difference in potency is taken into account with a factor, the toxic equivalency factor (TEF). This involves evaluating the relative toxicity of the individual compounds in comparison to the highly toxic 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8 TCDD). 2,3,7,8 TCDD is also known as the “Seveso poison” after it contaminated the environment in the chemical accident in Seveso in July 1976. 2,3,7,8 TCDD has a factor of one. The toxic effect of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is then calculated by multiplying the levels of the individual compounds by the corresponding factor as a so-called toxicity equivalent (TEQ) and added together. The TEQ value then corresponds to the toxic effect of a dioxin in relation to the 2,3,7,8 TCDD.
Undesirable byproducts
PCDDs/PCDFs were one of the first groups of substances to be included in Annex C (undesirable byproducts) of the Stockholm Convention in 2001. In the European Union, they are listed in Annex III Part A of the EU POP Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in the European Union and thus also in Germany listed. Annexes IV and V contain waste regulations. In European law, the emission regulations in Directive 2010/75/EU (DIRECTIVE 2010/75/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of November 24, 2010 on industrial emissions) are also relevant for dioxins.
Maximum levels for dioxins and furans have been in force in Europe since July 1, 2002, and since November 4, 2006, also for the sum of dioxins, furans and dl-PCBs in animal feed and numerous foodstuffs, especially of animal origin. These maximum level regulations were adapted to the current pollution situation in January 2012. In addition to maximum levels, action levels were also set that are around 25% lower than the maximum levels in food. If these levels are exceeded in food, the cause of the contamination must be determined.[1]
Solutions to overcome the complexity of dioxin analysis
Thermo Fisher Scientific is the only vendor worldwide that offers three solutions for the analysis of dioxins, PCBs and furans, depending on the kind of results required.
The DFS Magnetic Sector Field GC-HRMS system is the only GC-MS system that is compliant with all existing official methods and regulations, including US EPA, EU and JIS methods. It guarantees a mass resolution of 10.000 over the whole mass range.
The TSQ 9610 triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS shows compliance with EU requirements for Dioxin and dl-PCBs in food & feed samples providing confidence in results.
The Orbitrap Exploris GC system operated at 60,000 mass resolving power offers performance-based approach to dioxin screening and quantitation. In addition, it provides a simple route to broad scope POPs screening through full scan accurate mass data acquisition.
DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS
For over a decade, the global scientific community has chosen Thermo Scientific DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS for routine quantitative analysis of Dioxins and POPs. Thanks to its robustness, for its large-volume ion source, the DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS delivers consistent performance for routine analysis of complex matrices. For research applications, the DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS offers sensitivity and an integrated software solution, featuring flexibility and real-time analysis traceability. Learn more about this technology by clicking on the image below.
Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS
Achieve robust and sensitive quantitation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDF), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in food and feed samples in compliance with EU regulation 664/2017. The Thermo Scientific TSQ 9610 triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS system is equipped with the uniquely designed high sensitivity Advanced Electron Ion (AEI) source. Also incorporating a range of hardware and software productivity tools, the workflow delivers reliable and cost-effective routine analysis of dioxins and dl-PCBs.
Click on the image above to learn more about the triple quadrupole-based dioxin analyzer.
Orbitrap Exploris GC Mass Spectrometer
With the Orbitrap GC mass spectrometer, you can simplify even the most complex analytical requirements and achieve excellent data quality. By providing high quality and quantitative information, this GC-MS system with high-resolution accurate mass determination meets the growing needs of research laboratories in compound identification and quantification. From discovery profiling to metabolomics and applied quantification, scientists gain unprecedented access to information-rich data and results:
- Provides unprecedented resolution up to 240,000 (at m/z 200) for mass accuracy and sensitivity in the sub 1 ppm range down to concentrations as low as 1 ppt.
- Maintains system sensitivity at all mass resolution levels, eliminating the need to compromise between resolution and sensitivity.
Learn more about this technology by clicking on the image above.
For limited-time offers, please contact us at analyze.eu@thermofisher.com.
Related information
Application note: Uncompromised sensitivity in polychlorinateddibenzo-p-dioxins/furans analysis using triple quadrupoleGC-MS with cost-effective helium-saving technology
Brochure: Simplify the complexity of dioxin analysis –Thermo Scientific dioxin analysis with GC-MS/MS
Attend the dioxin roundtable webinar
Discover dioxins roundtable – how should we be doing dioxin and POPs analysis?
April 23, 2024
10:00 London | 11:00 Berlin | 14:00 Dubai
Speakers:
Nicholas Warner, Paolo Benedetti, Dominic Roberts, Heinz Mehlmann, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Giampaolo Panato, eco center SpA
Dioxin testing moves forward. Put your questions to our technical experts for Dioxins and POPs analysis in this roundtable webinar. Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS has long been recognized as the instrumentation for meeting worldwide regulations and compliance. However, techniques such as GC-MS/MS or GC Orbitrap MS provide an alternative instrumental approach to this challenging application. As laboratories strive for high throughput, increasing scope of analysis and reduced cost of ownership, it is important to consider the merits and limitations of all three approaches for various sample types and performance criteria.
Join us for an insightful roundtable webinar in which our applications specialists will discuss their experiences and answer your questions.
What you will learn:
- Regulations and challenges of dioxins analysis
- Top tips on method set up and data review
- Comparison of performance and benefits of each approach
- Latest Thermo Scientific technology and analytical solutions for regulatory dioxins analysis
Can’t attend live? Register to receive the recording link.
References
[1] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/chemikalien/persistente-organische-schadstoffe-pop/dioxine-pcddpcdf-polychlorierte-biphenyle-pcb#:~:text=Produktionsdaten%20%2F%20Unbeabsichtigte%20Entstehung&text=F%C3%BCr%20ihre%20Entstehung%20sind%20etwa,bei%20Waldbr%C3%A4nden%20und%20Vulkanausbr%C3%BCchen%20entstehen
[2] https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CMD/Technical-Notes/tn-001984-gc-orbitrap-ms-pccd-f-environmental-tn001984-na-en.pdf
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