Sources of polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes in Newark Bay estuary sediments
- ChemRisk, Portland, ME (United States)
- ChemRisk, Almeda, CA (United States)
- MBT Environmental Lab., Rancho Cordova, CA (United States)
- Alta Analytical Lab., El Dorado Hills, CA (United States)
Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTS) are sulfur-containing structural analogs of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Research to date indicates that PCDTs are formed by mechanisms similar to those that result in the formation of PCDFs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). PCDTs have been detected in fly ash from municipal incinerators and effluent from pulp and paper mills. Under laboratory conditions, PCDTs have been formed by thermal reaction of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated benzenes in the presence of elemental sulfur. The available data on sources of PCDTs suggests that environmental contamination is likely to be widespread. Recently, six samples collected from the lower Passaic River were reported to have a mean concentration of 3,680 ppt 2,4,6,8-tetrachlorodibenzothiophene. It has been suggested that this compound is a chemical marker for 2,4,5-trichlorophenol production. Such a relationship, however, has not been demonstrated. Several pulp and paper mills on the Passaic River, numerous municipal and industrial incinerators, manufacturers of sulfur-containing pesticides, and a nearby PCB-contaminated site are possible sources of PCDTs in the Newark Bay estuary. This study reports on the results of recent investigations to characterize the sources of 2,4,6,8-PCDT in the estuary.
- OSTI ID:
- 40032
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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