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Polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons around a thermal desorption plant in China

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Abstract

This study was launched to establish comprehensive environmental monitoring on the levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) both in soil and ambient air around a thermal desorption plant in China. All 209 congeners of PCBs, 136 congeners of PCDD/Fs (P = 4 to 8) and 16 EPA priority PAHs were analyzed. The concentration of PCBs ranged from 20.0 to 536 ng g−1 (or 0.077–5.27 pg WHO-TEQ g−1) in soil and from 972 to 991 ng Nm−3 (or 0.245–0.374 pg WHO-TEQ Nm−3) in air samples, much higher than the levels in cities. A single soil sampling point could have been affected by some transfer of PCBs from the untreated soil by the fingerprint characteristics and the statistical analysis. Establishing blank values prior to the start-up of new plant is a safe and sure method to establish subsequent impacts on the environment. During the treatment of hazardous waste, strict control of all waste materials and all emissions is required.

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Acknowledgment

This research was financially supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No.2009AA061304). The authors are thankful to Dr. Kees Olie for checking the elution orders of all PCBs and PCDD/Fs congeners on the DB5-MS column.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Jie Liu, Xiaodong Li, Tong Chen, Zhifu Qi, Alfons Buekens, Shengyong Lu & Jianhua Yan

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  1. Jie Liu
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  2. Xiaodong Li
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  3. Tong Chen
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  4. Zhifu Qi
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  5. Alfons Buekens
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  6. Shengyong Lu
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  7. Jianhua Yan
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Correspondence to Xiaodong Li.

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Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

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Liu, J., Li, X., Chen, T. et al. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons around a thermal desorption plant in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 3926–3935 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3692-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3692-z

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