Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in municipal and industrial effluents.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were quantified in 45 effluent samples in the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) system in Texas. Total PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 0.16 to 13.23 pg L(-1) in the dissolved phase and from 0.79 to 682.27 pg L(-1) in the suspended phase. Generally, industrial facilities contained more PCDD/F contamination than municipal wastewater treatment plants or refuse facilities. World Health Organization Toxic Equivalents (WHO-TEQs) ranged from 0.007 to 0.279 pg L(-1) in the dissolved phase and 0.021-1.851 pg L(-1) in the suspended phase. The major TEQ contributor was 2,3,7,8-TCDD and overall, TEQs were greatest in industrial effluents. A correlation between high solids and high PCDD/F concentrations was observed and based on the results obtained in this study, the abundance of suspended solids may have largely contributed to high PCDD/F contamination in the suspended phase. Homolog profiles revealed that PCDD/F contamination increased with increasing chlorination and the highest concentrations were primarily from the octa-chlorinated congeners (OCDD/F) in both the dissolved and suspended phase.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, N138, Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX 77204-4003, USA. Electronic address: ensappington@yahoo.com.
Emily N
EN
Sappington
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, N138, Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX 77204-4003, USA. Electronic address: aparna.27889@gmail.com.
Aparna
A
Balasubramani
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, N138, Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX 77204-4003, USA. Electronic address: rifai@uh.edu.
Hanadi S
HS
Rifai
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
2,3,7,8-TCDD; Homolog; Houston Ship Channel; OCDD; TCDF; TEQ