Publication Abstract

Levels of short and medium chain length polychlorinated n-alkanes in environmental samples from selected industrial areas in England and Wales

Levels of short and medium chain length polychlorinated n-alkanes in environmental samples from selected industrial areas in England and Wales

C. R. Nicholls, C. R. Allchin, and R. J. Law

Electron capture or negative ion chemical ionisation gas chromatography - mass spectrometry was employed to measure concentrations of short and medium chain length polychlorinated n-alkanes extracted from samples of water, river sediment, benthos, fish, soil, digested sewage and earthworms. Analysis of samples from twenty aquatic and eight agricultural sites indicated that short and medium chain length polychlorinated alkanes were present in the following concentration ranges: sediment < 0.2 - 65.1 mg/kg dry weight, water < 0.1 - 1.7 mg/L, fish < 0.1 - 5.2 mg/kg wet weight, benthos < 0.05 - 0.8 mg/kg wet weight, digested sewage 1.8 - 93.1 mg/kg dry weight, soil < 0.1 mg/kg dry weight, and earthworms < 0.1 - 1.7 mg/kg wet weight. Results were up to four times higher than those previously reported for industrial areas in England and Wales.

References:

C. R. Nicholls, C. R. Allchin, and R. J. Law, 2001. Levels of short and medium chain length polychlorinated n-alkanes in environmental samples from selected industrial areas in England and Wales. Environmental Pollution, 114(3): 415-430

C. R. Nicholls*, C. R. Allchin*, and R. J. Law*

Environmental Pollution, 114(3): 415-430