Increases in the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and -furan content of soils and vegetation since the 1840s

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00021a014· OSTI ID:5316711

Kjeller, L O; Johnston, A E ^[1]

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1. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden (United Kingdom)

Archived soil samples (0-23 cm, plough layer depth) collected from the same semirural plot in southeast England between 1,846 and 1,986 have been analyzed for polychlorinated (tetra to octa) dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs). Atmospheric deposition will have been the major source of PCDD/Fs to the site over this time. PCDD/Fs were present in all the samples, and concentrations started to increase around the turn of the century, rising from 31 to 92 ng of {Sigma}PCDD/Fs/(kg of soil) between 1983 and 1986. Unwashed bulked herbage samples from 1960-1970 and 1980s contained 96 and 85 ng of {Sigma}PCDD/F/Kg respectively, compared to 12 ng of {Sigma}PCDD/F/kg in a sample from 1880-1990. Average {Sigma}PCDD/F net rates of increase in the soil over the last century were calculated as ca. 190 ng/m{sup 2} year. It is suggested that the increased in soil and herbage PCDD/Fs observed this century at Rothamsted are representative of those likely for agricultural systems in many industrialized regions. The possible changing sources of PCDD/Fs to the environment are discussed in the context of the concentration trends and congener-specific observations.

• OSTI ID: 5316711
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 25:9; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIOXIN
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EUROPE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
FURANS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INFORMATION
LAND POLLUTION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
UNITED KINGDOM
WASHOUT