ABSTRACT
Four different mass spectrometric approaches — low resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS), high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), mass spectrometry/ mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using a hybrid instrument, and MS/MS using a triple quadrupole instrument — were compared with respect to detection limits. And also compares specificity for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in the same set of samples. Sensitivity and specificity are two major considerations in choosing the proper mass spectrometric technique for ultratrace analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). It has been demonstrated from these experiments that LRMS may not provide enough specificity for the analysis of PCDFs and PCDDs in complex biological matrices. Special attention has to be given to the ion chemistry within the Townsend discharge source when air or oxygen is used as a reagent gas.
