Gas Chromatograph/Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Airborne Benzo[a]pyrene Using Deuterium and ¹³C-Labeled Benzo[a]pyrene: A Critical Evaluation

A critical evaluation has been made of the gas chromatography/isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC/IDMS) analysis of airborne benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]p) using 2H-(deuterium, D) and 13C-labeled benzo[a]pyrene and a low resolution mass spectrometer. Laboratory quality control and field samples were used to determine the suitability of these two isotopically labeled B[a]p as surrogates for GC/IDMS B[a]p analysis. With method spike QC samples, recovery of the B[a]p was compared with the recoveries of D- and 13C-labeled B[a]p to validate the assumption that these two isotopically labeled B[a]p analogs could be used as method surrogates for IDMS B[a]p analyses. Two collocated Anderson Hi-Vol samplers were used to carry out a field study in which total B[a]p loadings from one sampler were correlated to the second sampler, before and after correcting the total B[a]p loadings against the recovery of the D- and 13C-labeled B[a]p. It is shown that a low-resolution mass spectrometer can be used in GC/IDMS B[a]p analysis to achieve results of high precision and accuracy. Depending on data quality objectives, D-labeled B[a]p could be used for IDMS B[a]p analysis, but is not recommended.