Organic compounds found near dump sites in Niagara Falls, New York

Abstract

Water and sediment samples were taken from sites adjacent to hazardous waste disposal areas in Niagara Falls, New York. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. The following compounds were identified: chlorobenzenes, chlnrotoluenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives, cyclohexane derivatives, polychlorinated biphenyls, trichlorophenol and other phenols, benzotrifluorides, mirex and phenothiazine. A large number of benzyl derivatives and unusual fluorinated compounds were also found; they were probably waste by-products of industrial chemical production. The hazardous waste disposal sites were probably the major sources for most of the compounds.

Polymerization and Transalkylation Reactions of Toluene on Cu(II)-Montmorillonite

“…The presence of both dimethylbiphenyl and benzyltoluene indicates that there were two competing reaction pathways. One, and possibly both, of these pathways continued at least to the trimer stage, as evidenced by the close resemblance of some of the observed spectra to that ofbis-(methylphenyl) phenylmethane (Elder et al, 1981). The uncertainty in the trimer identifications is due to the lack of library data for these compounds and the possible similarity in the spectra of bis-(methylphenyl) phenylmethane and trimethylterphenyl.…”

“…The uncertainty in the trimer identifications is due to the lack of library data for these compounds and the possible similarity in the spectra of bis-(methylphenyl) phenylmethane and trimethylterphenyl. The presence of dibenzyltoluene was ruled out since cleavage of the benzyl-phenyl bond produces an easily recognizable ion-fragment pattern (Elder et al, 1981). The trimerization pathway was therefore: toluene > (methylphenyl) phenylmethane > bis-(methylphenyl) phenylmethane; and/or toluene > dimethylbiphenyl > trimethylterphenyl.…”

Determination of chlorinated toluenes in soils using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

“…There are scarce reports on presence of polychlorotoluenes in the environment. In water and sediment samples from sites adjacent to hazardous waste disposal areas in Niagara Falls, Elder et al [5] reported the presence of di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-and heptachlorotoluenes among the organic compounds identified. Recently, the presence of dichlorotoluenes (DCTs) and minor amounts of mono-and trichlorinated species were detected in raw and treated water samples from the Llobregat river [6] whereas 2,4-dichlorotoluene (2,4-DCT) was the only chlorinated derivative found in a non-spiked water from Galicia [7].…”

“…Recently, the presence of dichlorotoluenes (DCTs) and minor amounts of mono-and trichlorinated species were detected in raw and treated water samples from the Llobregat river [6] whereas 2,4-dichlorotoluene (2,4-DCT) was the only chlorinated derivative found in a non-spiked water from Galicia [7]. The analysis of CTs in soil has been carried out only in evaluations of contaminated sites [5,8]. Thus, the presence of 2-MCT and 4-MCT, together with other 47 organic compounds, was evaluated in order to determine the potential contamination in groundwater and soil of the Umia riverbanks (Pontevedra, Spain) as the result of a fire occurred at a chemical distributor company and the runoff of the fire-fighting water into the river [8].…”

Sediment-associated contaminants ? an overview of scientific bases for developing remedial options

“…Several investigations have been conducted on the sources, distribution and fate of dichlorobenzene in the Niagara River/Lake Ontario region (Elder et aL, 1981;Oliver & Nicol, 1982;Allan et al, 1983;Durham & Oliver, 1983). A sediment core from Lake Ontario a few kilometers off the inflow of the Niagara River (at Niagara-onthe-Lake) showed a significant enrichment of 1,3-DCB and 1,4-DCB during the Second World War (350 mg/kg and 850 mg/kg dry matter, respectively) and in the 1960's (1000 mg/kg for 233 both substances).…”