Page:NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods - 8004.pdf/5

 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS in serum: METHOD 8004, Issue 2, dated 15 August 1994- Page 5 of 4 32. Read the concentration of PCB in the hexane solution (µg/mL) from the calibration graph. 33. Calculate the serum PCB concentration, C (µg/mL), by dividing the PCB concentration found in the extract, C e, by 5 (5 mL serum yields 1 mL extract):

GUIDES FOR INTERPRETATION: PCBs are present in the biosphere. Baselt [5] indicates a level 2 to 4 µg/L of plasma is indicative of significant exposure. Finklea [6] reported 57% of individuals tested had levels below 5 µg/L. Most control populations have PCB levels below 20 µg/L serum. What levels present a health hazard is not documented; however, a 200 µg/L as an upper limit has been suggested [7]. If a serious exposure is suspected, then the serum PCB levels should be augmented by liver battery and triglyceride tests plus a complete medical evaluation to ascertain the employee health risk.

EVALUATION OF METHOD: Eighty-nine analyses of four spiked human serum for the Aroclors 1242 and 1254 with a concentration range of 0.025 to 0.400 µg/L indicated recoveries greater than 80% with precision, Sr, of 0.16 [8].

REFERENCES: [1] NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 2nd. ed., V. 6, P&CAM 329, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Publ. (NIOSH) 80-125 (1980). [2] Que Hee, S. S., J. A. Ward, M. W. Tabor, and R. R. Suskind. Screening Method for Aroclor 1254 in Whole Blood, Anal. Chem., 55, 157-160 (1983). [3] Criteria for a Recommended Standard...Occupational Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Publ. (NIOSH) 77-225 (1977). [4] Bellar, T. A., and J. J. Lichtenberg. The Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Transformer Fluids and Waste Oils, EPA Office of Toxic Substances, Publication 600/4-81-045. [5] Baselt, R. C. Biological Monitoring Methods for Industrial Chemicals, 230-233, Biomedical Pubications, Davis, CA (1980). [6] Finklea, J., L. E. Priester, J. P. Cresson, T. Hauser, T. Hinners, and D. I. Hammer. Polychlorinated Biphenyl Residues in Human Plasma Exposure: A Major Urban Pollution Problem, Am. J. Publ. Health, 62, 645-651 (1972). [7] Ouw, H. K. Use and Health Effects of Aroclor 1242, a Polychlorinated Biphenyl in an Electrical Industry, Arch. Environ. Health, 31, 189-194 (1976). [8] Analysis of PCB in Blood Samples, NIOSH Contract 210-78-0107, Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc., Gainesville, FL (1978).

METHOD WRITTEN BY: Anthony W. Smallwood, Karl E. DeBord, and Alexander W. Teass, Ph.D., NIOSH/DBBS.

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 8/15/94