Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a well-known highly toxic compound th
at is present in nearly all components of the global ecosystem, including a
ir, soil, sediment, fish and humans. Dioxin analysis is equipment intensive
and expensive requiring low ppt or even ppq levels of detection. A simple,
rapid, cost-effective method of analysis is desired to enable researchers
to explore issues involving dioxin more quickly and to make more rational r
egulatory decisions. A sensitive immunoassay for TCDD has been developed in
this laboratory. In the present study, this assay is further optimized usi
ng a new coating antigen system and validated with biota samples by HRGC-HR
MS. The I-50 of current assay to 2,3,7-trichloro, 8-methyldibenzo-p-dioxin
(TMDD), a surrogate standard for TCDD, is 36 +/- 6.0 ppt, and the lower det
ection limit (LDL) is 4 ppt in the buffer. A good agreement between immunoa
ssay and GC/MS was achieved for fish and egg samples. To interface with the
immunoassay, a rapid sample preparation method was developed for soil samp
les. Without any further cleanup, the soil extracts can be directly used in
the ELISA with a detection limit at the low ppt level. It can be used as a
n on-site tool for environmental monitoring. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.
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