S. Jensen, L. Renberg
Sep 1, 1973
Citations
0
Influential Citations
29
Citations
Journal
Environmental Health Perspectives
Abstract
The presence of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin in 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acid esters was shown to originate from 2,4,5-trichlorophenol used in industrial processes. The dimerization is thought to occur when the phenol is produced from the corresponding tetrachlorobenzene by the action of alkali. Logically all products originating from chlorinated benzenes treated with alkali are possible sources of chlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins (chlorinated dioxins). We have therefore investigated the presence of chlorinated dioxins in some pentachlorophenol formulations (1). The first result obtained was that the content of the expected octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in one formulation was 1000 ppm (1 g/kg). However, the phenol-free extract was treated with diazomethane and reinjected into the gas chromatograph. Despite the fact that a dioxin cannot react with diazomethane, the octachlorodioxin content decreased to 50 ppm. At the same time, two new peaks appeared in the chromatogram. The compounds corresponding to these peaks were identified by means of mass