Levels of Coplanar PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in Fly Ashes and Pond Sediments

Abstract

Abstract Non-ortho chlorine substituted coplanar PCBs (Co-PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDFs) in fly ash and sediment samples of an irrigation pond near a municipal waste incineration facility were analyzed using 13C-labeled respective internal standards and a selected ion monitoring method of high resolution GC-MS. The average concentrations of total Co-PCBs, total PCDDs and total PCDFs in the fly ash samples (n = 3) were 1200, 33000 and 16000 pg/g of dry weight, respectively. The average levels of total Co-PCBs, total PCDDs and total PCDFs in the sediment samples (n = 10) were 270, 10000, and 290 pg/g of dry weight, respectively. Though the concentrations of Co-PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in the sediment were much lower than those in the fly ash, these findings might suggest that one minor source of Co-PCB pollution was municipal waste incineration as well as PCDDs and PCDFs.