MASS-SPECTROMETRIC AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE 2 MAIN TOXAPHENE CONGENERS PRESENT IN MARINE MAMMALS AS MINOR CONSTITUENTSIN THE TECHNICAL PRODUCT

The most abundant toxaphene congeners in marine mammals such as seals are an octa- and nonachloro bornane. They were recently isolated in mu g-quantities from seal blubber and their structures elucidated. Severa l abundant even mass fragment ions were observed in their electron imp act ionisation mass spectra. Only a limited number of congeners in the technical toxaphene mixture form these fragments with a comparable in tensity. They were used to search for the presence of both congeners i n the technical mixture. The nonachloro isomer could be identified as a minor congener in the pesticide mixture. There are strong indication s that the octachloro isomer also is present but no unequivocal confir mation could be made due to an interfering octachloro isomer which cou ld not be completely separated. A gas chromatographic stationary phase was found which allows the complete separation of the nonachloro isom er in the technical mixture as well as a much better separation of the octachloro isomer compared to the usually applied nonpolar stationary phases.