Comparison of point and nonpoint sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans to sediments of the Housatonic River

Abstract

Sediment samples were collected from the Housatonic River, a river known to be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls from a point source. Samples were analyzed via high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. These samples are shown to contain polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from both point and nonpoint sources. Analysis of concentrations, homolog profiles, and use of principal component analysis allow the point source input of PCDD/F to be differentiated from nonpoint atmospheric input. 20 refs., 6 figs., 4 tabs.