title: Concentration levels and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls, pentachlorobenzene, and hexachlorobenzene in commercial pigments.
abstract: The concentration levels and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz), and hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz) were assessed in commercially available organic pigments. Among the azo-type pigments tested, PCB-11, which is synthesized from 3,3'-dichlorobendizine, and PCB-52, which is synthesized from 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobendizine, were the major congeners detected. It is speculated that these were byproducts of chlorobendizine, which has a very similar structure. The total PCB concentrations in this type of pigment ranged from 0.0070 to 740 mg/kg. Among the phthalocyanine-type pigments, highly chlorinated PCBs, mainly composed of PCB-209, PeCBz, and HxCBz were detected. Their concentration levels ranged from 0.011 to 2.5 mg/kg, 0.0035 to 8.4 mg/kg, and 0.027 to 75 mg/kg, respectively. It is suggested that PeCBz and HxCBz were formed as byproducts and converted into PCBs at the time of synthesizing the phthalocyanine green. For the polycyclic-type pigments that were assessed, a distinctive PCB congener profile was detected that suggested an impact of their raw materials and the organic solvent used in the pigment synthesis. PCB pollution from PCB-11, PCB-52, and PCB-209 pigments is of particular concern; therefore, the monthly variations in atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants were measured in an urban area (Sapporo city) and an industrial area (Muroran city). The study detected a certain level of PCB-11, which is not included in PCB technical mixtures, and revealed continuing PCB pollution originating from pigments in the ambient air.
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido Research Organization, Environmental and Geological Research Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, N19W12, Kita, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0819, Japan, anezaki@hro.or.jp.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anezaki
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000032:analysis*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D013783:Textile Industry; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D004396:Coloring Agents; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; C003060:pentachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls