DETERMINATION OF PCBS IN FATTY TISSUES BY MEANS OF SEVERAL DETECTION TECHNIQUES

Difficulties with harmonization of analytical procedures and consequen tly poor comparability of generated data represent in the Czech Republ ic the, main reason for the delay in issuing of updated legislation fo r polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in foodstuffs. This study draws attention to possible errors (overestimations) that can occur during routine de termination of these residues in the fat portion of biotic matrices. W e demonstrate the gas chromatographic (GC) conditions under which inte rfering contaminants such as phthalates and/or chlorinated pesticides can be separated from analytes. Discussion is focused on the advantage s and drawbacks of GC with an electron capture detector, GC mass spect rometry and GC with an atomic emission detector. Various approaches us ed for calculation of PCBs contents are compared.