Analysis of Sugar for Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Samples of sugar in four different stages of refinement were analyzed by packed column gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) for the possible contamination by tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The samples were obtained from a sugar mill processing sugar cane from fields treated with the herbicide Silvex. No TCDD was detected at detection limits of 1 ppt or lower. In order to demonstrate the capability of detecting TCDD in sugar, at a subppt level, sugar samples fortified with native TCDD were also analyzed.