Dioxin Databases, Methods and Tools
Databases
- Database of references from the 2009 Dioxin Re-Assessment Workshop (PDF) 711K
- Dioxin Sources Inventory (2006 Final) | (2013 External Review Draft)
- Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
- Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
- National Dioxin Air Monitoring Network (NDAMN)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Database (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS) Database
- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) | TRI Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds
- EPA's Risk Assessment Portal
- EPA's Science Inventory (Search on Dioxin)
- Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Releases of Dioxins, Furans and Other Unintentional POPs(2013)(PDF) 5.8 MB
Methods
- Method 23/23A (air from stack gases; Revision 2, 2018) measures air emissions of dioxins and furans from stationary point sources. This method describes the sampling strategy and calculation of overall results based in Methods 8280 or 8290.
- Method 4425 (Soil/Sediment, Rev 0, Feb 2007) measures solvent extracts of soils and sediments for total planar organic compounds. The method uses a reporter gene in human tissue culture to quantify the total amount of PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs combined in the extract.
- Method 4430 (soil /sediment, Rev 0, Dec 2007) screens extracts from soils and sediments for total PCDDs and PCDFs, excluding PAHs and PCBs. It uses the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to estimate total PCDD/F toxicity.
- Method 613 (water - 1984) (pdf) 192K measures concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in water (e.g., municipal, industrial) using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
- Method 1613B (Tetra- through Octa-Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans by Isotope Dilution HRGC/HRMS, Oct 1994, Revision B) (pdf) 499K measures tetra- through octa-chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs in environmental matrices by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The method uses isotope dilution to quantify very low concentrations of individual PCDD and PCDF congeners.
- Method TO-9A Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic compounds in Ambient Air (Second Edition, 1999) (pdf) 854K describes collection, preparation, and analysis of polyhalogenated dioxins. These include polychlorinated, polybrominated, and brominated/ chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in ambient air. The method samples 325 to 400 cubic meters (m3) of ambient air over 24 hours by HRGC/HRMS. Concentrations as low as 0.2 picograms(pg)/m3 of air, or 0.2 trillionth of a gram per cubic meter of air, can be accurately quantified.
- Method TO-10A: See related Compendium Method TO-10A: Determination Of Pesticides And Polychlorinated Biphenyls In Ambient Air Using Low Volume Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Sampling Followed By Gas Chromatographic/Multi-Detector Detection (GC/MD(pdf) 225K.
- Method TO-4A: See related Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic compounds in Ambient Air (2nd Edition), Compendium Method TO-4A Determination of Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Ambient Air Using High Volume Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Sampling Followed by Gas Chromatographic/Multi-Detector Detection (GC/MD) (pdf) 665K.
- Method 8280B (water, soil, fly ash, sludge, other; Rev 2, Feb 2007) measures concentrations of individual 2,3,7,8-substituted tetra- through octa-chlorinated PCDDs and TCDFs, but is less sensitive than Method 1613B. Using HRGC/low resolution MS, it can quantify individual dioxins in fly soil and ash at 1–5 parts per million (ppm). Individual dioxins in water, fuel oil, oily sludges, or other chemical waste samples can be quantified at 10–50 parts per trillion (ppt) depending on the congener.
- Method 8290A (soil, sediment, fly ash, water, sludge [including paper pulp], still bottom, fuel oil, chemical reactor residue, fish tissue, or human adipose tissue; Revision 1, Feb 2007) (PDF) uses HRGC/high resolution MS to measure tetra- through octa-chlorinated PCDDs and TCDFs in a variety of environmental media. The higher resolution MS (than Method 8280B) allows detection and quantification at parts-per-trillion (ppt) to parts-per-quadrillion (ppq) concentrations.
- Approved Drinking Water Analytical Methods links to analytic methods approved for drinking water compliance monitoring of “Organic Contaminants” which includes Method 1613 (see above). The website includes a complete list of approved methods pertinent to drinking water and links to drinking water-related Agency rules.