Gas chromatograph with electron capture detector for analysis of fluorinated organic compounds

卤化有机化学品的环境持久性、毒性和分布是一个日益令人不安的问题。在滴滴涕和多氯联苯等氯化化学品的历史经验之后，化学工业转向使用氟化和溴化化合物来制造不粘涂料和防水化学品（全氟化学品; PFC）和阻燃剂（多溴二苯醚; PBDE）等产品。这些化合物中的许多曾经被认为是安全的，现在被禁止使用，因为它们的毒性作用被发现，并且它们在远至北极的动物中的存在被认识到。其他化合物，如卤代乙酸（哈斯）和三卤甲烷（THMs）是危险的副产品，可能在饮用水氯消毒过程中形成。这项工作旨在加强我们对这些化学品的分布和归宿的了解，并探索使其无毒的微生物方法。此外，另一种具有历史意义的氯化化合物，化学战剂芥子气，是这项研究的主要目标。加拿大最近宣布，在离温哥华岛海岸127公里处发现了数量不详的这种危险材料，美国拥有7吨这种材料，正等待销毁。

The environmental persistence, toxicity and distribution of halogenated organic chemicals is an increasingly troubling issue. After historical experience with chlorinated chemicals such as DDT and PCBs, the chemical industry turned to fluorinated and brominated compounds to manufacture products such as non-stick coatings and water proofing chemicals (perfluorinated chemicals; PFCs), and flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers; PBDEs). Many of these compounds, once deemed safe, are now being banned as their toxic effects are discovered and their presence in animals as far away as the Arctic is realized. Other compounds, such as haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) are dangerous byproducts that may be formed during drinking water disinfection with chlorine. This work aims to strengthen our understanding of the distribution and fate of these chemicals and to explore microbiological methods to render them non-toxic. In addition, another chlorinated compound of historical significance, the chemical warfare agent Mustard Gas, is a primary target of this research. Canada recently announced the discovery of an undisclosed quantity of this dangerous material 127 km off the coast of Vancouver Island, and the United States possesses 7 tonnes of this material that is awaiting destruction.