Utility of three types of mass spectrometers for determining elemental compositions of ions formed from chromatographically separated compounds.

Concentration factors of 1000 and more reveal dozens of compounds in extracts of water supplies. Library mass spectra for most of these compounds are not available, and alternative means of identification are needed. Determination of the elemental compositions of the ions in mass spectra makes feasible searches of commercial and chemical literature that often lead to compound identification.

Identification of drinking water contaminants in the course of a childhood cancer investigation in Toms River, New Jersey.

Using a combination of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/infrared spectroscopy (GC/IR) spectroscopic techniques, chemical contaminants and their hydrolysis products were identified in well water sampled in connection with a suspected childhood cancer cluster located in Dover Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. The drinking water contamination resulted from the leaching of industrial waste chemicals from drums that were disposed of at the site known as Reich Farm. Contaminants identified include dinitrile-tetralin compounds, known as 'trimers,' that are by-products of a polymerization process widely used by several polymer manufactures during the 1970s and 1980s (and still used today).

Identification of pollutants in a municipal well using high resolution mass spectrometry.

An elevated incidence of childhood cancer was observed near a contaminated site. Trace amounts of several isomeric compounds were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in a concentrated extract of municipal well water. No matching library mass spectra were found and Fourier transform IR and NMR analyses were not feasible due to the low concentration of the compounds.