Compound-specific radiocarbon analysis has proven to be an excellent technique for determining whether halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) are derived from natural or industrial sources. With the exception of toxaphenes, industrial HOCs are synthesized from petrochemicals, which are millions of years old and hence have no detectable 14C. Conversely, HOCs of natural origin have contemporary 14C values reflecting the environment in which they were formed. Analysis of the halogenated contaminants present in the blubber of a True's beaked whale recently stranded on the Virginia coast revealed the presence of two methoxylated tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-BDEs) whose origin was not readily apparent. Several MeO-BDEs have been isolated from marine sponges. However, the blubber-derived compounds could also be metabolites of polybrominated diphenyl ethers used as flame retardants in plastics. Extraction and purification of quantities of these compounds sufficient for compound specific radiocarbon analysis has shown that these two compounds are naturally produced.
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