1.1 This test method covers the gas chromatographic determination of various organochlorine pesticides, including some pesticidal degradation products and related compounds in water and waste water. Such compounds are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine, but may also contain oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, or other halogens.

1.2 The following compounds may be determined individually by this test method: aldrin, [alpha]-BHC, [beta]-BHC, [delta]-BHC, [gamma]-BHC(lindane), captan, [alpha]-chlordane, [gamma]-chlordane, chlordene, DDD, DDE, DDT, dichloran, dieldrin, endosulfan, endrin, HBH, HCP, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, isodrin, methoxychlor, mirex, and PCNB. Multicomponent mixtures, toxaphene, technical chlordane, and others may also be determined (Note 1). The fluorinated compound trifluralin may also be determined when using an electron-capture detector. This test method may be used for the determination of many other organochlorine pesticides. However, the analyst should demonstrate that it is in fact applicable to the specific compound or compounds of interest before applying it to sample analysis.

1.3 The test method sensitivity limit ranges from 1 ng/L to 10 ng/L for single-component pesticides and 50 ng/L to 1000 ng/L for multicomponent pesticides when analyzing 1 L of drinking water or low-organic background surface water.

1.4 When organochlorine pesticides exist as complex mixtures, the individual compounds may be difficult to distinguish. High, low, or otherwise unreliable results may be obtained through misidentification or one compound obscuring another of lesser concentration, or both. Provisions incorporated in this method are intended to minimize the effects of such interferences.

1.5 This test method has been interlaboratory tested for natural waters (river, estuarine, lake). The analyst should recognize that bias precision reported in 15.1 and 16.1 may not apply to other waters.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values stated in inch-pound units are given in parentheses and are provided for information only.

1.7 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see 9.10.