Polychlorinated naphthalenes in soil, sediment, and biota collected near a former chloralkali plant in coastal Georgia, USA.
Concentrations of total polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) as high as 23 micrograms/g, dry wt, were found in sediments contaminated by the disposal of wastes from chlor-alkali processes. Concentrations of total PCNs in blue crab, fish and birds were 3- to 5-orders of magnitude less than that in sediments. The profile of PCN congeners in biota was predominated by tetra- or penta-chloronaphthalenes, while hepta- and octa-chloronaphthalenes were dominant in sediments. The 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) estimated for PCNs in sediments and biota were greater than those reported for PCBs, PCDDs or PCDFs. These results suggest that chlor-alkali process is a source of PCNs found in the environment.
Kannan
K
K
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
Blankenship
A L
AL
Giesy
J P
JP
Imagawa
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D003386:Brachyura; D005399:Fishes; D005845:Georgia; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D009281:Naphthalenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls