Rolf Andersson

Overview on environmental fate of chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans. Sources, levels and isomeric pattern in various matrices

Abstract Polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans have been identified in technical products and pesticides, most of which are not very widely used today. Other sources are incinerators of various types like MSW incinerators, but also hazardous waste incinerators and industrial incinerators. PCDDs and PCDFs have also been identified in exhausts from cars running on leaded gasoline with halogenated additives. Background levels of PCDDs and PCDFs have been identified in fish and other aquatic organisms from the Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea, and also in human adipose tissue samples from USA, Canada, Sweden, Japan and Viet Nam as well as in samples of breast milk from Sweden, Denmark, West Germany, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia and Viet Nam. The isomeric pattern in all these biological samples is very similar.

Analyses of PCDDs and PCDFs in sludge and water samples

Abstract PCDDs and PCDFs have been identified in sludge samples from municipal water treatment plants and river water. The sampling technique and the analytical technique is discussed.

Emissions of PCDDs and PCDFs in gasoline and diesel fueled cars

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have been identified in automobile exhaust from cars running on leaded and unleaded gasoline respectively. The chlorine concentrations in the fuels are in the ppm range and involved in the formation of PCDDs and PCDFs. However no chlorine was detected in the diesel oil, and the emission of PCDDs and PCDFs from a diesel fueled truck was lower than the detection level (<100 pg/liter diesel).

PCDDs and PCDFs in soil and river sediment samples from a rural area in the United States of America

In 1994, we collected 36 soil samples and 61 sediment samples from southern Mississippi, USA. Each sample was analyzed for PCDDs and PCDFs by HRMS using either a polar or a non-polar HRGC column. Although most Cl4  Cl8 PCDDs and PCDFs were detected in each sample, PCDD levels (particularly Cl7  Cl8) were higher in sediment than soil samples. The PCDF pattern in two sediment samples indicated a possible PCB source. The concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetra CDD and 2,3,7,8-tetra CDF were somewhat higher upstream of a pulp mill than downstream from the mill.

Sources and Relative Importance of PCDD and PCDF Emissions

Polychlorinated dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) have been identified in technical products and pesticides, most of which are not very widely used today. Other sources are incinerators of various types like MSW incinerators, hazardous waste incinerators and industrial incinerators. PCDDs and PCDFs have also been identified in exhausts from cars running on leaded gasoline with halogenated additives. Background levels of PCDDs and PCDFs have been identified in fish and other aquatic organisms from the Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea, and also in human adipose tissue samples from U.S.A., Canada, Sweden, Japan and Vietnam as well as in samples of breast milk from Sweden, Denmark, West Germany, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia and Vietnam. The isomeric pattern in all these biological samples is very similar. The relative importance of different sources to the general background is difficult to estimate although the contribution of direct inhalation from point sources like MSW incinerators is small.

PCDDs and PCDFs in municipal sewage sludge and effluent from POTW in the State of Mississippi, USA

During the summer 1995, we collected sewage sludge and effluent samples from 17 publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) in the State of Mississippi, USA. Most PCDDs and PCDFs were detected in the slu ...

Levels of polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans in commercial detergents and related products

Abstract Two samples of commercial detergents were analyzed for PCDDs and PCDFs. The soft soap contained around 100 times higher levels than the hypochlorite-based bleach. Soft and liquid soap are prepared from tall oil as tall resin by-products from the pulp industry. Samples of tall oil and tall resin were also analyzed and found to have much higher levels than the soft soap, although the isomeric pattern was found to be almost identical for the three products. An estimate of the total level of PCDDs and PCDFs in the tall oil and the tall resin indicates amounts in the same range as the total amount of the total effluents or the production of bleached pulp in Sweden.

Exposure assessment at a PCDD/F contaminated site in Sweden—field measurements of exposure media and blood serum analysis

Background, aim, and scopeThe main pathway for human exposure to the highly toxic polychlorinated-p-dioxins and polychlorinated furans [polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs)] is via dietary intake. Other exposure pathways may, however, be important in close proximity to point sources, such as wood preservation sites, where PCDD/F contaminated chlorophenols (CP) were previously used. In this study, a heavily PCDD/F contaminated CP saw mill site in Sweden was investigated. Human exposure through a broad spectrum of exposure pathways was assessed. Such studies are in demand since the question whether contaminated sites represent a current or future risk can only be answered by detailed site-specific risk assessments.Materials and methodsSampling of exposure media (soil, air, groundwater, raspberries, carrots, potatoes, grass, milk, eggs, and chicken fodder) was made. Exposure media concentrations and congener distribution patterns were used to investigate the mobilization of PCDD/Fs from soil to the environment and to calculate exposure levels for adults. Blood serum levels from site-exposed and control individuals were also analyzed.ResultsCongener distribution patterns at the site were generally dominated by a specific marker congener (1234678-HpCDF), which is highly abundant in the polluted soil. The dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQ) concentrations were notably elevated as compared to national reference samples for most exposure media, and the marker congener was a major contributor to increased TEQ levels. There were also indications of soil-to-air volatilization of tetra- and penta-CDD/Fs. People who participated in the restoration of a contaminated building showed higher levels of 1234678-HpCDF compared to controls, and calculated exposure levels suggest that several site-specific exposure routes may be of importance for the daily intake of PCDD/F.Conclusions, recommendations, and perspectivesDespite low mobility of higher chlorinated PCDD/Fs, these contaminants were transferred from the polluted soil to the surroundings and into human tissue. The extent of increased exposure from contaminated sites depends on the PCDD/F source strength of the soil, composition of the pollution, human activities, and dietary patterns of the residents. Impact from the contaminated soil on other exposure media was seen also for areas with low to moderate soil contamination. In the future, not only the levels of PCDD/F soil pollution but also the composition must be considered in risk assessments of contaminated sites.

Environmental deposition of PCDDs and PCDFs as determined by the analysis of snow samples from the Northern Sweden

Abstract Snow samples taken in the northen regions of Sweden have been analyzed for chlorinated polyaromatic compounds. In all samples detectable levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have been found. The congener profiles of PCDDs and PCDFs present in the snow samples were compared to those from combustion samples and from ambient air samples. The results show that local sources of PCDDs and PCDFs can be identified by the general backgrounds level of chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans in snow samples. The profiles of PCDFs from automobile emissions have a characteristic pattern, comprised predominantly by the lower chlorinated isomers. This profile in combination with the general background profile can be observed in samples taken close to roads with heavy traffic.

Search for chlorobornanes in river sediments and in influents and effluents.

In 1997, we collected nine river sediment samples, including one duplicate, from above and below three pulp and paper mills on the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin, USA, and one mill on Beaver Dam Creek in Ontario, Canada. We also obtained twenty split sediment samples from the Wisconsin River that were collected by the US EPA in collaboration with Indiana University. Finally, we collected influent and effluent samples from eight pulp and paper related industries in the US and Canada. We analyzed all sediment and water samples for hexa- through decachlorobornanes. We did not detect any chlorobornanes in most of the sediments. When chlorobornanes were detected, the concentration in sediments below pulp mills were similar to or less than in those from above the same mills. Chlorobornanes could not be detected in any of the influent or effluent samples. Thus, pulp and paper mills and relate facilities are not a source of chlorobornanes.