Polychlorinated naphthalenes in sediments from the industrial region of Bitterfeld.
Bitterfeld (Germany) was a major site of chemical production in the former German Democratic Republic with chloralkali electrolysis as the basic process. Effluents were dumped via the creek Spittelwasser into the rivers Mulde and Elbe. Despite the fact that the chloralkali industry is known as a possible source of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), to date no data about PCN pollution in the region of Bitterfeld and downstream regions are available. Therefore, sediments of the creek Spittelwasser were isomer-specifically analysed for penta-, hexa- and heptachlorinated naphthalenes using GC/MS. Concentrations of 880, 543 and 1120 ng/g dry weight were found, respectively. The isomer pattern suggests chloralkali industry as the major source of PCN contamination. Because of their toxicological relevance we suggest to include PCNs into monitoring and risk assessment programs of the rivers Mulde and Elbe downstream of Bitterfeld.
Brack
Werner
W
Department of Chemical Ecotoxicology, UFZ Center for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Germany. wb@uoe.ufz.de
Kind
Tobias
T
Schrader
Steffi
S
Möder
Monika
M
Schüürmann
Gerrit
G
D002617:Chemical Industry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D005858:Germany; D005859:Germany, East; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007536:Isomerism; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical