Abstract
Toxic equivalents (TE) of dioxins, furans and related compounds can be determined directly by measuring the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity (AHH-assay) in rat hepatoma cells. This method has major advantages over the classical chemical-analytical approach, if TEs in complex environmental samples are to be determined with little expense in terms of work and time. The specific bioassay covers all compounds with dioxin-like effects. These include over 5000 possible mixed halogenated dioxins and furans (PXDD/F) and in addition mixed halogenated biphenyls (PXB). Statutory regulations stipulate that only 17 selected chlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) have to be determined by chemical-analytical means. Previous results show, that the biologically determined TEs are higher than TEs calculated from chemical analytical data. Exact reasons for this are unknown. The AHH-assay allows inexpensive screening for TEs in environmental samples. Our results indicate that there are compounds with dioxin-like effects, which are unknown or have not yet been recorded by chemical analysis.
| Translated title of the contribution | Determination of dioxins in environmental samples: Comparison of biological and chemical-analytical results |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages (from-to) | 411-414 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| State | Published - 1996 |