Radiocarbon content of synthetic and natural semi-volatile halogenated organic compounds

摘要

Some halogenated organic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been suggested to have natural sources but separating these compounds from their commercially synthesized counterparts is difficult. Molecular-level 14~C analysis may be beneficial since most synthetic com- pounds are manufactured from petrochemicals (14~C-free0 and natural compounds should have "modern" or "contemporary' 14~C levels. As a baseline study, we measured, for the first time, the 14~C abundance in commercial PCB and PBDE mixtures, a number of organochlorine pesticides, as well as one natural product 2-(3, 5'-dibromo-2'-methoxyphenoxy)-3,5-dibromoanisole.