Brits, MartinGorst-Allman, PeterRohwer, Egmont RichardDe Vos, JayneDe Boer, JacobWeiss, Jana M.2019-01-232018-02Brits, M., Gorst-Allman, P., Rohwer, E.R. et al. 2018, 'Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry for screening of organohalogenated compounds in cat hair', Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1536, pp. 151-162.0021-9673 (print)1873-3778 (online)10.1016/j.chroma.2017.08.055http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68215The coupling of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry offers the best separation efficiency combined with accurate mass measurements over a wide mass range. The tremendous power of this screening tool is illustrated by trace qualitative screening analysis of organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) in pet cat hair. Tentative identification was supported by mass spectral database searches and elemental formula prediction from the experimentally determined accurate mass data. This screening approach resulted in the first tentative identification of pentabromoethylbenzene, decabromodiphenyl ethane, hexabromocyclododecane, trisbromoneopentyl alcohol, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate in the South African indoor environment. A total of seventy-two OHCs were identified in the samples and include known flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and legacy contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine, organophosphorous and pyrethroid pesticides. The results obtained from cat hair indicate that these pets are exposed to complex mixtures of OHCs and the detection of these compounds suggests that non-invasive cat hair samples can be used to model indoor exposure with reference to external deposition of OHCs present in the air and dust surrounding people. Toddlers share the same environment as pet cats and therefore also the same health risks.en© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Chromatography A. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1536, pp. 151-162, 2018. doi : 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.08.055.High-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometryIndoor exposure to pollutantsOrganohalogenated compound (OHC)Pet cat hairTwo-dimensional gas chromatographyTris(2-chloroethyl) phosphatePolybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)Accurate mass measurementsSpectrometrySmoke detectorsPlasticizersOrganic pollutantsMass spectrometryHealth risksFlame retardant (FR)ChromatographyPostprint Article