Volatilization of extensively dechlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls from historically contaminated sediments

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620171006· OSTI ID:290169

Bushart, S P; Bush, B; Barnard, E L; Bott, A ^[1]

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1. State Univ. of New York, NY (United States). School of Public Health

A study was conducted as a preliminary characterization of the ability of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediments to volatilize PCBs into the air upon drying under conditions meant to be environmentally relevant. Sediments collected from the St. Lawrence River contained high levels of PCBs. The PCB contamination consisted of high levels of mainly ortho-substituted mono- and dichlorobiphenyls, suggesting that the original contamination had been transformed by microbial reductive dechlorination. These sediments lost 0.07 to 1.7% of their total PCB content to the air during a 24-h drying cycle. Sediments with varying amounts of overlying water lost significantly less PCB to the air within the first few cycles than native sediments with no overlying water. Losses due to PCB volatilization were well correlated to sediment PCB concentration and water loss but not to drying temperatures (4--43 C) within 24-h drying cycles. The PCB congeners representing >90% of those volatilized within the first 24 h of drying were those produced in the sediment samples as a result of microbial reductive dechlorination of the original PCB contamination. The presence of these congeners in volatilized air samples was positively confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with Fourier transform infrared detection (FTIR). These results strongly suggest that significant amounts of mono-, di-, and trichlorobiphenyls may be volatilized from PCB-contaminated sediments at ambient environmental conditions and that this PCB volatilization may be enhanced by microbial reductive dechlorination.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 290169
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 17; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
DECHLORINATION
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
SEDIMENTS
ST LAWRENCE RIVER
VOLATILITY
WATER POLLUTION