Sampling and Analysis for Polychlorinated Naphthalenes in the Environment

Soil, sediment, biota, 24-hr integrated water, and 2 consecutive 24-hr integrated air samples were collected at several geographic sites, extracted, cleaned up, and analyzed for polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). Analysis by quadrupole gas-liquid chromatography /mass spectrometry / computer (GLC / MS / COMP), using multiple ion detection (MID), provided a sensitivity of <50 pg or about 0.5 μg/kg for soil, 0.2 μg/L for water, and 0.3 ng/cu. m for air. Individual PCN isomers were accurately and positively determined in the presence of other compounds (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls). Polychlorinated naphthalene levels in soil near a PCN manufacturing site averaged 940 μg/kg (range 130—2300 μg/kg). Air samples contained from 25 to 450 ng/cu. m (average 150 ng/cu. m) on the first day and 120—2900 ng/cu. m (average 1400 ng/cu. m) the second day. A small dead fish contained 39 μg/kg, and locally obtained apples contained 90 μg/kg. Only trace amounts of PCNs were found in the water samples. Analysis of samples collected on consecutive days near a capacitor manufacturer showed an average of 3.1 ng/cu. m (range undetectable to 7.3 ng/cu. m) and 1.2 ng/cu. m (range undetectable to 3.9 ng/cu. m) in air, 2.0 μg/ kg (range undetectable to 7.3 μg/kg) in soil. No PCNs were detected in integrated water samples. Crab water samples contained 0.6 and 5.5 μg/L. Samples collected on consecutive days near a second capacitor manufacturer contained an average of 19 ng/cu. m (range 9.8— 31 ng/cu. m) and 17 ng/cu. m (range 9.8—33 ng/cu. m), respectively, in air, 240 μg/kg (range undetectable to 470 μg/kg) in soil, and 0.6 μg/L in water downstream of the plant (undetectable in upstream sample). An amber resinous solid collected near the plant contained 920 μg PCNs/kg, mostly as the di-, tri-, and tetrachloronaphthalenes. The results of this study demonstrate a wide range of PCN concentrations in the environment near manufacturing and use sites.