title: A preliminary investigation of the environmental impact of a thermal power plant in relation to PCB contamination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most significant application of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is in transformers and capacitors. Therefore, power plants are important suspected sources for entry of PCBs into the environment. In this context, the levels and distribution of PCBs in sediment, soil, ash, and sludge samples were investigated around Seyitömer thermal power plant, Kütahya, Turkey. Moreover, identity and contribution of PCB mixtures were predicted using the chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States Environmental Protection Agency methods were applied during sample preparation, extraction (3540C), cleanup (3660B, 3665A, 3630C), and analysis (8082A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ΣPCB concentrations in the region ranged from not detected to 385 ng/g dry weight, with relatively higher contamination in sediments in comparison to soil, sludge, and ash samples collected from around the power plant. Congener profiles of the sediment and soil samples show penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorobiphenyls as the major homolog groups. The results from the CMB model indicate that PCB contamination is largely due to Clophen A60/A40 and Aroclor 1254/1254(late)/1260 release into the sediment and sludge samples around the thermal power plant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since there are no other sources of PCBs in the region and the identity of PCB sources estimated by the CMB model mirrors PCB mixtures contained in transformers formerly used in the plant, the environmental contamination observed especially in sediments is attributed to the power plant. Release of PCBs over time, as indicated by the significant concentrations observed even in surface samples, emphasizes the importance of the need for better environmental management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06531, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gedik
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
mesh_terms: D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011210:Power Plants; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D014421:Turkey; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C042166:clophen A60; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls