Determination of dioxins and furans, dioxin-like PCBs

Dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) are persistent organic compounds (POPs) known for their high toxicity, bioaccumulation, and serious effects on human health and the environment. They originate primarily from industrial processes, incomplete combustion, thermal activities, or historical contamination. Due to their chemical stability and affinity for fats, these substances can accumulate in food chains and ecosystems. Therefore, measuring these compounds is a key analysis for environmental monitoring, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

Health, environmental and regulatory challenges

Dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs are among the most toxic substances known. Chronic exposure to these substances is associated with carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, immunotoxic, and reprotoxic effects. As such, their presence is strictly regulated by European legislation, particularly in food matrices, soils, sediments, sludge, water, and certain biological samples.
Health and environmental authorities impose very low limit values , often expressed in toxic equivalents (TEQ), making the use of highly sensitive and selective analytical methods essential. Measurement allows for verification of regulatory compliance, identification of pollution sources, monitoring of industrial sites, and fulfillment of official control requirements.

Analytical principle and HRGC-HRMS method

The analysis of dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs relies on high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS) , considered the international reference method.
After rigorous sample preparation, including extraction, purification, and concentration, the compounds are separated by high-resolution gas chromatography. Detection is then performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, allowing for the identification and quantification of each congener with excellent selectivity.
The use of isotopically labeled standards ensures the reliability of the quantification and the correction of analytical losses. The results are expressed as individual concentrations and toxic equivalents (TEQs), according to the toxicological equivalence factors (TEFs) defined by the WHO. This approach allows for a precise assessment of the health risk associated with the analyzed sample.

Analyzed matrices

Dioxin, furan, and PCB-dl levels can be measured in a wide variety of environmental and biological matrices. Commonly analyzed matrices include soils, sediments, sludge, water, ash, dust, industrial emissions, and certain biological or food samples as part of broader environmental monitoring programs. Each type of matrix requires a specific preparation protocol to ensure sample representativeness and reliable results.

Industrial and environmental applications

This analysis is widely used in environmental monitoring programs, impact assessments, pollution diagnostics, and management plans for contaminated sites and soils. It is also essential for industrial operators subject to obligations regarding the control of atmospheric emissions or waste. In the context of remediation or cleanup projects, the analysis allows for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments and validating compliance with regulatory objectives.
Consulting firms and local authorities also use these analyses to assess health risks, map contamination, or meet national and European regulatory requirements.

Reliability of results and quality requirements

Due to the extremely low concentrations to be measured and the associated health risks, the quantification of dioxins and dl-PCBs requires highly specialized laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and stringent quality procedures. Analyses must be performed according to standardized methods, with complete traceability and enhanced quality controls (blanks, duplicates, calibrations). The results provided constitute critical data that can be used in regulatory, legal, or health contexts.

Added value YesWeLab

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of expert laboratories specializing in the analysis of persistent organic pollutants, equipped with state-of-the-art HRGC-HRMS systems. The majority of our partners are ISO 17025 and COFRAC certified or accredited, guaranteeing that analyses comply with European requirements. Our scientific team assists you in defining your sampling plan, selecting the matrices to be analyzed, interpreting the results, and applying them to regulatory contexts. Since 2020, industrial companies, local authorities, and engineering firms have entrusted us with the management of their environmental analyses via our digital platform, ensuring rigorous, confidential, and responsive monitoring.

Related analyses in the YesWeLab catalog

To complement the measurement of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, the following analyses are frequently combined:

• Assay of indicator PCBs (PCB 6)
• Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• Heavy metal analysis by ICP-MS
• Analysis of organochlorine pesticides