Development of a screening test for atrazine, alachlor and chlordane in turtles by gas chromatography.

Abstract

A gas chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of alachlor, atrazine and chlordane residues in deformed turtles is described. 'The column used was SB-30. along with an flame ionization detector. The procedure was carried out by extraction with chloroform. followed by cleanup with Florisil. Recoveries varied for turtle tissues from 0 to 86%. Florisil cleanup interfered with analysis of atrazine and alachlor. The method was applied to the analysis of tat. liver and unidentified gland tissue of seven deformed turtles. Alachlor and atrazine were not detected among fat, liver and unidentified gland tissue. The different isomers of chlordane were found in the liver. The chlordane concentration varied from 0. 14 to 52 mg/g of tissue. The considerable uncertainties exist in the concentration data due to interterence from fat in the liver.