M10 PM Chemical Hazard Identification, Classification and Communication
Monday, 14 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in 341-342

(BIR-1117-473330) Identification of toxic halogenated tolyltriazoles in industrial effluents.

Birkholz, D¹, Goudey, S², Taylor, L³, Proczkowski, J¹, Kulmatycki, P¹, Brockbank, R⁴, ¹ Enviro-Test Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada² HydroQual Laboratories, Calgary, Alberta, Canada³ Stantec Consulting Ltd, Guelph, Ontario, Canada⁴ Enviro-Test Laboratories, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT- We have performed rainbow trout fish bioassays on industrial effuent obtained from a polyethylene plant, two straddle gas plants, a fertilizer plant and a tire manufacturer. All effluents were found to be toxic to rainbow trout. Subsequent toxicity identification evaluations revealed the source of toxicity was cooling water blowdown. The compounds identified as the cause of toxicity were determined to be bromo-, dibromo-, tribromo-, chloro-, dichloro-, bromochloro-, bromodichloro-, and dibromochlorotolyltriazoles. Cooling towers using tolyltriazole (TT)as a corrosion inhibitor in conjunction with halogen based biocides (HOCl and HOBr) produce predominately brominated TT. Cooling towers using chloroTT as a corrosion inhibitor in conjunction with halogen based biocides produce both chlorine and bromine containing tolyltriazoles. Chlorine based TTs are likely formed in cooling towers where TT is used in conjunction with HOCl. Toxicity testing using luminescent bacteria, Fathead minnow and rainbow trout revealed that bromoTTs were most toxic and that chloroTTs were the least toxic. Tolytriazoles containing both chlorine and bromine were somewhere in between in toxic response. A cooling tower simulation was performed using TT and the biocides HOCl and HOBr. Bromo-TTs were successfully formed and extracted using solid phase extraction. Concentrations were estimated using GC/MS with the aid of an internal standard. BromoTTs formed included: bromoTT (52 ug/L), dibromoTT (40 ug/L), and tribromoTT (20 ug/L). Observed toxicities were: luminescent bacteria (16 TU), rainbow trout (5.0 TU), and Fathead minnow (1.0 TU). Fractionation of the solid phase extract using HPLC followed by further toxicity testing using rainbow trout revealed that dibromoTTs were the most toxic, however both bromoTTs and tribromoTTs were considerably toxic.

Key words: halogenated tolyltriazoles, toxic, fish, cooling towers