Abstract
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) in human adipose tissues was determined. A sample was saponified with a ethanolic solution of potassium hydroxide and extracted with hexane. The extract was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid and then cleaned up by silica gel chromatography. After separation from PCB by polyamide thin-layer chromatography, PCN was identified by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. PCN concentration in the adipose tissues obtained from 10 human subjects was determined by ECD-gas chromatography. The concentration showed several ppb levels, corresponding from 1/500 to 1/1000 of PCB concentration in adipose tissues. The number of substituted chlorine atoms in PCN molecules was not a factor for its acumulation in fat.
