Instrumental neutron activation analysis of extractable organohalogens (EOX) in Antarctic marine organisms

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was performed to measure the levels of extractable organohalogens (EOX) in the organisms from the Antarctic marine ecosystem. The results show that EOX (EOCl, EOBr and EOI) were found in all the samples analyzed. The highest concentration was determined in the ascidian sample. The concentration order of EOX was mainly EOCl> EOBr> EOI with the exception of nemertine, ascidian, fish and adelie penguin samples. The concentrations of man-made organochlorines (DDTs and CHLs) were analyzed by GC-MS, and the results were compared with the concentrations of EOX determined in the same samples. The results show that the contribution of known man-made organochlorines in EOCl was less than 3%. This means that a large amount of unknown organochlorine compounds is present in Antarctic marine organisms.