PT03 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday
(PT034) Evaluation of ambient levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in rural property soils adjacent to a former pulp and paper mill.
Huntley, S1, Pardus, M2, DeShields, B1, 1 Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc., Petaluma, CA, USA2 Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
ABSTRACT- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are released to the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The primary source of PCDD/Fs is combustion (e.g., incineration, forest fires). Releases to the atmosphere from combustion sources have resulted in widespread deposition in the environment with ambient PCDD/F congener profiles closely resembling those associated with combustion sources. Ambient levels of PCDD/Fs have been shown to be present in urban, rural, and pristine soils throughout the world. PCDD/F congener profiles for soil samples collected from rural property soils adjacent to a former pulp and paper mill located in northern California were compared to congener profiles for soil samples collected at the former mill black liquor pond and adjacent to the primary effluent clarifier and recovery boiler. Congener profiles for rural property soils were found to be consistent with ambient PCDD/F congener profiles published in the literature. PCDD/F congener profiles for soil samples collected at the former mill black liquor pond and adjacent to the primary effluent clarifier and recovery boiler represent a unique pattern that clearly differentiates these samples from those collected from adjacent rural property soils. Results indicate that adjacent rural property soil PCDD/Fs are consistent with ambient conditions and have not been impacted by historical mill operations.
Key words: PCDD/F, dioxin, ambient, mill