Contamination of tap water on an ocean-going vessel.
The crew of a container vessel detected an aromatic odor of the tap water that was produced on board. As the origin of the contamination was not obvious, water was taken at different sampling sites of the water supply of the vessel. Samples were analyzed for occurrence of chemical substances by GC-MS. Thereby xylene and ethylbenzene were detected in nearly each sample. The highest xylene concentration was found in the sample from the fresh water tank. As xylene was used as solvent in the tank coating, it could be concluded that it was released by the coating. Consequently, the crew was advised to ventilate and clean the fresh water tanks.
Meyer
Gabriele
G
Gesundheitsabteilung, See-Berufsgenossenschaft, Reimerstwiete 2, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany. gabriele.meyer@see-bg.de
Neubauer
Birger
B
Schepers
Bernd-Fred
BF
D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012767:Ships / Q000592:standards*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis*
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014992:Xylenes; C004912:ethylbenzene