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Environmental effects of terpenoid chemicals: a review

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society

Abstract

Entry of terpenes into the atmosphere occurs by volatilization of hydrocarbons from foliage, especially over forest lands. These compounds react photochemically with ozone, causing a blue haze. The total volume of reactive hydrocarbons released naturally appears several times greater than that from man’s activities. Diterpenes also enter the environment through surface water runoff. Recently dehydroabietic acid and other terpenoidal compounds were found in ocean sediments, deposited by rivers. Few cases of air pollution can be related to industrial operations or processing of terpenes. Veneer dryer stack gas emissions cause an aesthetic problem, controllable by better modes of operation. Workers in soldering operations require protection from fumes caused by use of rosin cores. Rosin and rosin derivatives are virtually nontoxic to mammals and find use in food packaging applications. Sulfate turpentine is the source of pinenes for manufacture of synthetic flavors and perfumes. Resin acids and related diterpenes are, however, acutely toxic to aquatic organisms and can cause severe problems to fisheries if released in pulp mill wastes. Both monoterpenes and diterpenes are biodegradable. The future widespread use of toxaphene as an insecticide is uncertain because of its toxicity to aquatic fauna and relatively long persistence in soils and sediments. Recent results have demonstrated microbiological uptake of toxaphene components leading to problems of bioaccumulation through the food chain.

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  1. Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service, Pacific Environment Institute, V7V 1N6, West Vancouver, B.C.

    I. H. Rogers

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Rogers, I.H. Environmental effects of terpenoid chemicals: a review. J Am Oil Chem Soc 55, A113–A118 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676926

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02676926

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