Mirja Lahtiperä

Bioaccumulation of dioxins, coplanar PCBs, PCDEs, HxCNs, R-PCNs, R-PCPHs and R-PCBBs in fish from a pulp-mill recipient watercourse

Abstract Pike, perch and lake bream from the river Kymijoki were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), hexachlorinated naphthalenes (HxCNs), non-ortho substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (coplanar PCBs) and alkylchloroaromatics of pulp mill origin. In most fish, the only congener of PCDD/PCDFs found was 2,3,7,8-TeCDF (

Comparison of extraction methods for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon determination in sediments

Different sample preparation methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in lake and river sediments were compared and evaluated. Freeze‐dried sediment materials were e...

Metal reclamation produces sulphur analogues of toxic dioxins and furans

Abstract Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDBTs), polychlorinated thianthrenes (PCTAs) and polychlorinated diphenylsulphides (PCDPSs) which are sulphur analogues for polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs), were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS in different samples from a metal reclamation plant. The samples were gas phase samples from an aluminium smelter and a car shredder and ash and slag from processes where different temperatures (300–850 °C) were used. Tri-, tetra-and pentaCDBTs were most abundant sulphur chloroaromatics at amounts comparable to PCDDs and PCDFs in emissions and wastes. Small amounts of tri- and tetraCTAs were identified in car shredder samples. Occurence of PCDPSs remained uncertain due to interferences even in GC/HRMS analyses.

Chlorinated fluorenes and alkylfluorenes in bleached kraft pulp and pulp mill discharges

The occurrence and levels of polychlorinated fluorenes (PCFLs), methylfluorenes (C1-PCFLs) and dimethylfluorenes (C2-PCFLs) were studied by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) in hardwood and softwood pulp, effluent and biosludge from a bleached kraft mill. Semiquantitative concentrations of these compounds were estimated using selected ion monitoring and a mass spectral resolution of 10,000. The identification of PCFLs and C1-PCFLs was confirmed by the chlorination mixtures of fluorene and 2-methylfluorene. Several congeners were found for each compound groups studied and isomer patterns were similar in bleached pulp and biosludge. The approximated sum levels of di- and trichloro isomers of PCFLs, C1-PCFLs and C2-PCFLs in the biosludge were about 2, 5 and 4 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. The levels of the corresponding compounds in the softwood pulp were 0.5, 0.8 and 0.2 ng/g dw, respectively. Of the studied compounds, only C1-diCFLs (0.01 ng/g dw) were detected in the hardwood pulp. In the effluent, PCFLs were non-detectable, but traces of C1-diCFLs (0.5 ng/L) and C2-pentaCFLs (0.06 ng/L) were found. These were observed mainly as dissolved in the filtrate and not as particle-bound.

Identification of lipophilic pollutants discharged from a Finnish pulp and paper mill

Lipophilic organic compounds originating from kraft pulping and papermaking were identified by straight gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses. Samples analyzed included a primary clarifier effluent (PE) and a secondary clarifier effluent (SE) from the activated sludge treatment plant of a Finnish ECF-bleached (Elementally Chlorine Free) kraft pulp and paper mill. Liquid-liquid extraction composition of PE was compared with solid phase extraction (SPE) and dialysis of a semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) exposed to PE. Dichloromethane extracts of particulate material isolated from PE, sludges from both the primary and secondary clarifier, a sediment collected in the vicinity of the mill and whitefish subacutely exposed to the secondary treatment effluent were also investigated. Typical pulp mill-related compounds such as terpenes, terpenoids and aromatic compounds were identified in PE whereas these were non-detectable in SE. For example, thunbergene, thunbergol, squalene, longifolene and derivatives of abietic acid were observed in PE. Alkylated polycyclic aromatics were major compounds identified in the sediment sample with retene (C4-alkyl phenanthrene) as a predominant component.

Chlorinated anisoles and veratroles in fish. Model compounds. Instrumental and sensory determinations

Abstract Model compounds of polychlorinated anisoles (PCA) and veratroles (PCV) have been used in development of their analysis in fish. Individual PCAs and PCVs in fish were identified from GC peaks by retention time, selected ion monitoring and flavour in sniff detector. Trout exposed to spent bleach liquor and fish in recipient of pulp chlorobleaching had significantly higher PCA and PCV contents than fish at less polluted reference areas. Taste impairment points of fish fillets given by a blind panel correlated significantly with PCA/PCV contents but also with contents of polychlorophenols (PCP), quaiacols (PCG) and catechols (PCC).

Chlorophenanthrenes, alkylchlorophenanthrenes and alkylchloronaphthalenes in kraft pulp mill products and discharges

Abstract Chlorinated phenanthrenes (PCPHs; P=1–5), alkylphenanthrenes (C4-PCPHs; P=1–3), dimethylnaphthalenes (C2-PCNs; P=1–4) and trimethylnaphthalenes (C3-PCNs; P=1–2) were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) in pulp, effluent and biosludge of two kraft pulp mills (mills 1 and 2). These compounds were indicated to be formed in the manufacture of both bleached hardwood and softwood kraft pulp. Different compound groups dominated in mill 1 samples compared to mill 2 samples. Differences between birch and pine pulp from mill 1 were observed for all substance groups but in mill 2 pulp only for PCPHs. The highest concentrations of PCPHs in pulp (3 ng/g dry weight) were measured in pine pulp from mill 2. PCPHs occurred at a higher level in pine pulp compared to birch pulp. The sum levels of C4-PCPHs in pulp ranged from 0.9 to 8.7 ng/g dw, those of C2-PCNs from 0.7 to 8.2 ng/g dw and those of C3-PCNs from 0.3 to 4.5 ng/g dw. Drying and pressing of pulp to sheets seemed to effect on the amounts of extractable C4-PCPHs in pulp, because concentrations measured in dried sheet pulp were lower than in wet pulp slurry. Mill 2 biosludge had C4-PCPHs (61 ng/g dw) at a higher level than C2-PCNs (35 ng/g dw). In mill 1 biosludge these groups were at a similar level (72 ng/g dw). The sum concentration of C3-PCNs in mill 1 sludge was 47 ng/g dw and in mill 2 sludge 16 ng/g dw. All studied groups were found both as particle-bound and dissolved in filtrates. Total levels in effluents ranged from 2 ng/L for C3-PCNs in mill 2 effluent to 56 ng/L for C4-PCPHs in mill 1 effluent.

Chlorohydrocarbons, PCB congeners, polychlorodioxins, furans and dibenzothiophenes in pine needles in the vicinity of a metal reclamation plant

Abstract Chlorohydrocarbons, PCB congeners, polychlorodioxins, furans and dibenzothiophenes in pine needles in the vicinity of a metal reclamation plant were analyzed by GC/ECD and GC/MS. Wax and the rest of the needles were analyzed separately. As a rule the concentrations of α-HCH (0.5–13.6 ng/g), γ-HCH (0.4–7.3 ng/g), HCB (0.2–3.4 ng/g), PCB congeners (0.2–67 ng/g), PCDDs and PCDFs were higher in the older needles. The ratio of the concentration in the wax to the concentration in the rest of the needles was higher in the younger needles. The concentrations of PCB congeners, TeCDDs and TeCDFs were higher in the needles collected in the area nearest to the plant. The samples, obviously, contained tri- and tetrachlorodibenzothiophenes but these were not determined quantitatively due to interfering peaks in GC/MS.

Chloroaromatic pollutants in mussels incubated in two Finnish watercourses polluted by industry

Abstract Concentrations of different chlorinated compounds were measured in mussels incubated in two polluted watercourses, a river (the River Kymijoki) and a lake (Lake Vanaja) for four weeks in summer 1995. The sum concentrations of polychlorinated phenols (PCP) and biphenyls (PCB) were both about 1 μg/g lipid weight (lw) in Lake Vanaja mussels, while in the River Kymijoki mussels PCPs were non-detectable and PCBs were measured 120 ng/g lIw. The concentrations of toxic polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners ranged between

Oil residues in Baltic sediment, mussel and fish. I. Development of the analysis methods

Abstract Sediment, sediment trap, Mytilus, Macoma and flounder samples from Northern Baltic (Finnish archipelago) have been analyzed for their contents of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Androstane and hexaethylbenzene were used as internal standards. The analysis procedure consisted of alkaline degradation of fat, column fractionation of the two residue groups and final determination by glass capillary gas chromatography with FID for aliphatic hydrocarbon group and with mass spectrometry for non-polar aromatic residue group. The latter group was also determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. The residues due to oil pollution were distinguished from compounds of pure natural origin on the basis of statistical treatment of the determination results.