# Episode 47: Tracking Toxic PCBs in River Water using Gas Chromatography–Electron Capture Detection

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episode-47-tracking-toxic-pcbs-in-river-water-using-gas-chromatography-electron-capture-detection
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episode-47-tracking-toxic-pcbs-in-river-water-using-gas-chromatography-electron-capture-detection.md
Podcast: [Concentrating on Chromatography](https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959)
Published: 2026-02-12T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chromatography/episodes/Episode-47-Tracking-Toxic-PCBs-in-River-Water-using-Gas-ChromatographyElectron-Capture-Detection-e3el1pl
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/fd632380/podcast/play/115033333/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-1-4%2F417472676-44100-2-88df7cd1f1175.m4a
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episodes/episode-47-tracking-toxic-pcbs-in-river-water-using-gas-chromatography-electron-capture-detection
Duration seconds: 1109

## Resource

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David speaks with Francis Femi Oloy about using chromatography to uncover hidden pollutants in real-world water systems.Femi’s team analyzed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in six major rivers in southwestern Nigeria — compounds that were banned decades ago but still persist in the environment. Using a workflow that many analytical labs will recognize — liquid–liquid extraction, cleanup, rotary evaporation, nitrogen blowdown, and GC-ECD detection — they quantified 25 PCB congeners at trace levels and linked the results to ecological and human health risk.📌 In this conversation, we cover:• Why legacy pollutants like PCBs still show up today• Choosing GC-ECD vs LC-MS for halogenated compounds• Liquid–liquid extraction and matrix cleanup strategies• Why sample concentration is critical for dilute environmental samples• How rotovap + nitrogen blowdown work together without losing volatile analytes• Seasonal trends (why wet season levels were higher)• Translating concentration data into meaningful risk assessmentsThis episode is perfect for anyone working in:Chromatography • Environmental analysis • Sample prep • Trace analysis • GC methods • Analytical chemistryIf you enjoy practical discussions about real laboratory workflows and how chromatography solves real problems, subscribe to Concentrating on Chromatography. 🔬 Paper discussed: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in rivers of Southwestern Nigeria: sources, seasonal distribution, and assessment of human health risks# 🔔 More episodesSubscribe for more interviews with scientists using chromatography and mass spectrometry to solve real-world challenges.

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