Input of trichloroacetic acid into the vegetation of various climate zones--measurements on several continents.
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA, CCl(3)COOH) is a phytotoxic chemical. Although TCA salts and derivates were once used as herbicides to combat perennial grasses and weeds, they have since been banned because of their indiscriminate herbicidal effects on woody plant species. However, TCA can also be formed in the atmosphere. For instance, the high-volatile C(2)-chlorohydrocarbons tetrachloroethene (TECE, C(2)Cl(4)) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE, CCl(3)CH(3)) can react under oxidative conditions in the atmosphere to form TCA and other substances. The ongoing industrialisation of Southeast Asia, South Africa and South America means that use of TECE as solvents in the metal and textile industries of these regions in the southern hemisphere can be expected to rise. The increasing emissions of this substance--together with the rise in the atmospheric oxidation potential caused by urban activities, slash and burn agriculture and forest fires in the southern hemisphere--could lead to a greater input/formation of TCA in the vegetation located in the lee of these emission sources. By means of biomonitoring studies, the input/formation of TCA in vegetation was detected at various locations in South America, North America, Africa, and Europe.
Weissflog
Ludwig
L
Department of Analytical Chemistry, UFZ-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04301 Leipzig, Germany. lw@san.ufz.de
Krüger
Gert
G
Elansky
Nikolai
N
Putz
Erich
E
Pfennigsdorff
Andrea
A
Seyfarth
Klaus Ullrich
KU
Nüchter
Matthias
M
Lange
Christian
C
Kotte
Karsten
K
D000349:Africa; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002980:Climate; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005060:Europe; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis; D009656:North America; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013020:South America; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014240:Trichloroethanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D014240:Trichloroethanes; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid