Biomethylation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol to the potent off-flavour compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisole has previously been found to cause taste and odour problems in drinking water. In the present study, both compounds were detected in seemingly unpolluted surface waters. However, the highest concentrations of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in tap water were caused by the formation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol during chlorine disinfection of drinking water and subsequent methylation of this compound in the distribution system. Analysis of samples from several sites in the investigated distribution systems showed that there was a substantial spatial and temporal variation of the concentration of both 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and its precursor.

A firn core was drilled in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, to investigate the presence of haloacetates in snow that had accumulated over the past 200 years. By employing GC-MS detection of methyl esters of haloacetic acids, we were able to measure haloacetate concentrations down to one or a few nanograms per liter. Trichloroacetate (TCA) and dibromoacetate (DBA) were found in firn at concentrations that clearly exceeded the blank level of the applied analytical procedure, with mean concentrations estimated to 12 and 6 ng/L, respectively. There were also indications that mono-and dichloroacetate (MCA and DCA) were present in firn, whereas monobromoacetate (MBA) was found only in samples of surficial snow. We concluded that there is a significant natural background level of TCA and DBA in precipitation based on the following: (i) several of samples represented snow accumulated in the 19th century; (ii) haloacetates can be expected to be immobile in Antarctic firn; (iii) extensive measures were taken to prevent sample contamination; and (iv) blank levels of the analytical procedure used were low and stable. In addition, our results suggested that MCA and DCA also occur naturally in precipitation.

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