Concentration levels and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls, pentachlorobenzene, and hexachlorobenzene in commercial pigments

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2014-01, Vol.21 (2), p.998-1009
• Main Authors: Anezaki, Katsunori, Nakano, Takeshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air; Air pollution; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; By products; Byproducts; Chemical contaminants; Chlorobenzenes - analysis; Coloring Agents - analysis; Congeners; Dioxins; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Hazardous Substances - analysis; Hexachlorobenzene; Hexachlorobenzene - analysis; Industrial areas; Industrial wastes; PCB; Pentachlorobenzene; Pigments; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Raw materials; Research Article; Studies; Textile Industry; Textiles; Toxicity; Urban areas; Waste materials; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1977-2

The concentration levels and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz), and hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz) were assessed in commercially available organic pigments. Among the azo-type pigments tested, PCB-11, which is synthesized from 3,3′-dichlorobendizine, and PCB-52, which is synthesized from 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobendizine, were the major congeners detected. It is speculated that these were byproducts of chlorobendizine, which has a very similar structure. The total PCB concentrations in this type of pigment ranged from 0.0070 to 740 mg/kg. Among the phthalocyanine-type pigments, highly chlorinated PCBs, mainly composed of PCB-209, PeCBz, and HxCBz were detected. Their concentration levels ranged from 0.011 to 2.5 mg/kg, 0.0035 to 8.4 mg/kg, and 0.027 to 75 mg/kg, respectively. It is suggested that PeCBz and HxCBz were formed as byproducts and converted into PCBs at the time of synthesizing the phthalocyanine green. For the polycyclic-type pigments that were assessed, a distinctive PCB congener profile was detected that suggested an impact of their raw materials and the organic solvent used in the pigment synthesis. PCB pollution from PCB-11, PCB-52, and PCB-209 pigments is of particular concern; therefore, the monthly variations in atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants were measured in an urban area (Sapporo city) and an industrial area (Muroran city). The study detected a certain level of PCB-11, which is not included in PCB technical mixtures, and revealed continuing PCB pollution originating from pigments in the ambient air.