Tetrachlorodibenzo- p -Dioxin Quantitation in Stack-Collected Coal Fly Ash

Abstract

Gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry has been used to quantitate tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in fly ash collected from the stack of a typical commercial coal-fired power plant. No TCDD was detected in this fly ash, but minute traces may be present below the detection limit of 1.2 parts per trillion (by weight). This finding indicates that this type of fossil-fueled power plant is not a large source of this compound in environmental samples, in contrast to the conclusions presented in a recent industrial report.

A Wire Reclamation Incinerator as a Source of Environmental Contamination with Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and Tetrachlorodibenzofurans

“…Analyses for TCDDs and TCDFs were performed by Dr. M. Gross at the Midwest Center for Mass Spectrometry at the University of Nebraska using a gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry procedure, as described in a previous work. 7 Citizens who complained of adverse health effects were offered medical examinations in the Occupational Medicine Clinic at a nearby county hospital. The examinations included a medical history, review of medical records, physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry screen, liver profile, urinalysis, pulmonary function tests, blood lead, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), and serum PCB level.…”

The Development of a High‐resolution Mass Spectrometry Method for Ultra‐trace Analysis of Chlorinated Dioxins in Environmental and Biological Samples Including Viet Nam Era Veterans

“…These issues were apparently not considered by the task force, and estimates of the production of dioxins or TCDDs based on data from refuse incinerators when extrapolated to fossil‐fuels, in general, had the potential to greatly exaggerate estimates of the magnitude of the contribution of combustion‐related dioxins to the overall levels being found. For this reason, Kimble and Gross (1979) measured the TCDDs in fly ash from a coal‐fired generator. A fly ash sample, collected as particulate matter, in one of four size‐range fractions showing the highest mutagenicity, containing organic as well as serum‐soluble surface components where adsorption might be expected, was selected for analysis.…”

Comparison of gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry for detection of polychlorinated biphenyls and tetrachlorodibenzofuran

“…The latter approach has the advantages of speed, smaller sample volumes, and fewer possibilities for analyte loss. These specific mass spectral techniques include chemical ionization (Cl) mass spectrometry (3,4), atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (5), mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) (6)(7)(8), gas chromatography/low-or high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/LRMS or GC/ HRMS) (9)(10)(11), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) (12).…”