Analytical protocol for the analysis of polybrominated dibenzo-dioxins and dibenzofurans: Data quality objectives and single-laboratory evaluation

An analytical protocol for the measurement of part per billion and sub-part per billion levels of PBDDs and PBDFs in selected flame retardant chemicals (polybrominated diphenyloxides; PBDPO) was developed. The fractionation/enrichment procedures were optimized to minimize the effects of the PBDPOs upon the ability to recover and measure the PBDD/PBDFs. Results from the method validation show that the current methodology is capable of accuracies ranging from 70% to 150% at the 0.1 to 10 ppb levels while larger sample sizes (from 20–200 mg to 4 g) are necessary in order to meet the EPA target Test Rule limit of quantification (LOQ) requirements.