ISO 8260:2008

Overview

ISO 8260:2008 (IDF 130:2008) specifies an analytical method for the determination of individual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in milk and milk products. The standard covers sample types such as fresh milk, evaporated and sweetened condensed milk, powdered milk, butter and butterfat, cheese and other dairy products. It prescribes extraction, cleanup and quantification using capillary gas–liquid chromatography with electron‑capture detection (GLC‑ECD), and has detection capability down to 5 µg OCP/kg fat and 2.5 µg PCB/kg fat.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: Analysis of OCPs and PCBs across a wide range of milk products for monitoring, control and research.
• Sample preparation: Extraction of fat and organochlorine compounds from different dairy matrices (milk, condensed milk, powders, butter, cheese).
• Isolation and cleanup: Use of cryogenic extraction and two-stage solid-phase extraction (C18 followed by Florisil) to separate contaminants from lipids.
• Chromatography and detection: Identification and quantification by capillary GLC with electron‑capture detection (GLC‑ECD); trans‑nonachlor used as internal standard.
• Performance characteristics: Defined limits of determination on a fat basis, plus sections on precision, repeatability and reproducibility; includes interlaboratory trial information and example chromatograms.
• Reagents and safety: Lists analytical-grade solvents (e.g., n‑hexane, methylene chloride, petroleum ether) and cautions on handling volatile/toxic materials.
• Reporting: Calculation, expression of results and retention time conventions.

Applications

ISO 8260:2008 is practical for:

• Food safety and regulatory testing: Compliance monitoring for pesticide and PCB residues in dairy products.
• Quality control in dairy industry: Routine screening and batch release testing by dairy laboratories.
• Research and surveillance: Environmental and epidemiological studies tracking contamination patterns and PCB isomer distributions.
• Accredited analytical laboratories: Method provides a standardized procedure suitable for proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparison.

Users include national food safety authorities, commercial and public health laboratories, dairy processors, and research institutions focused on contaminant monitoring.

Related Standards

• ISO 14156 | IDF 172 - Extraction methods for lipids and liposoluble compounds (normative reference cited by ISO 8260:2008).
• ISO 8260:2008 is published jointly as IDF 130:2008.

Keywords: ISO 8260:2008, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, milk products, capillary gas-liquid chromatography, electron-capture detection, GLC‑ECD, cryogenic extraction, C18, Florisil, trans‑nonachlor, dairy testing.