Identification of the halogenated compounds resulting from the 1997 Plastimet Inc. fire in Hamilton, Ontario, using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and (ultra)high resolution mass spectrometry

Environ Sci Technol. 2014 Sep 16;48(18):10656-63. doi: 10.1021/es503428j. Epub 2014 Aug 25.

Abstract

Between July 9-12, 1997, at least 400 tonnes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were consumed in a fire at the Plastimet Inc. plastics recycling facility in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This led to the release of contaminants, including highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). This study re-examines a composite soil sample collected shortly after the fire using state-of-the-art FT-ICR (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance) and GC × GC-TOF (comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight) mass spectrometry. The FT-ICR experiments led to the identification of approximately 150 molecular formulas, corresponding to chlorinated and mixed chloro/bromo compounds. The majority of these are halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (halo-PAHs), including highly substituted (e.g., C14HCl9 and C16HCl9) and high molecular weight (e.g., C28H12Cl4) Cl-PAHs that have not been reported previously in environmental samples. Complementary GC × GC-TOF experiments resolved individual halo-PAHs, some of which were confirmed with available standards. The concentrations of the most abundant halo-PAH groups, C14H8Cl2 (22 μg/g) and C16H8Cl2 (20 μg/g) are much higher than reported dioxin values and comparable to the corresponding PAH groups C14H10 (12 μg/g) and C16H10 (19 μg/g). The high abundance of the halo-PAHs identified in this study highlights the need for further investigation into their environmental occurrence and risk.

MeSH terms

  • Benzofurans / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Fires*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / analysis*
  • Ontario
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Hydrocarbons, Halogenated
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • dibenzofuran