A simple apparatus for administering 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to commercially available pelletized fish food

A simple apparatus for loading chemicals onto commercially available, pelletized fish food is described. An analysis of several food nutrients indicated the procedure using n-hexane (50 ml n-hexane:200 g food) had an inconsequential influence on their concentrations, i.e., only lauric acid and margaroleic acid exhibited reductions >/= 10%, 25%. and 17%, respectively. Of 35 batches of food laden with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-diaxin (TCDD), only 40% of the loadings were within 10% of the desired value. However, in terms of the within-batch variability, all loadings exhibited a coefficient of variation (CV) </= 15%, and over 60% of the loadings exhibited a CV </= 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]