Polychlorinated naphthalenes,polychlorinated biphenyls and ΣDDT residues in British birds of prey

Tissue samples (muscle, liver and kidney) from small raptors (kestrels) have been extracted by steam extraction into hexane and the levels of ΣDDT, PCB, PCN and PCT determined by carbon skeleton-gas chromatography. A 3% palladium catalyst, and a 2% RbCl salt column coupled to a mass spectrometer were used for the determination. Significant quantities of ΣDDT and PCBs were found in all samples. Only trace amounts of PCTs were found. The relative concentrations of ΣDDT and PCB may be rationalised with the environment from which the sample was taken.