Organohalogenated pollutants

Asplund L, Jansson B, de Wit C, Bergek S, Hlelt M, Rappe C, OdsjoT, Olsson M (1990), Orga-nohalogen Compounds 1 405-408.. .Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzo-furans (PCDF) compared to other organohalogen pollutants in biological samples from Swedish ecosystems", Eco-Informa Press, Bayreuth... 

Hoff, P. T., Van Campernhout, K., Van de Vijver, K., Covaci, A., Bervoets, L., Moens, L., et al. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and organohalogen pollutants in hver of three freshwater fish species in Flanders (Belgium) relationship with biochemical and organismal effects. Environ. Pollut., 137 324-333 (2005). 

Kodavanti, P.R., Senthilkumar, K., Loganathan, B.G. (2008). Organohalogen pollutants and human health. Encyclopedia of Public Health. (In press)... 

Table 1 Selected GCxGC applications involving the analysis of persistent organohalogenated pollutants. For simplicity, only optimised experimental setups or those providing the most conclusive results have been mentioned...

Next to PCBs and PCDD/Fs, other families of environmentally relevant aromatic organohalogenated pollutants rapidly attracted the attention of researchers working with GCxGC. Because of their widespread use and rapid increase of their environmental levels during the last decades, most attention was directed to flame retardants and, in particular, to PBDEs [23,27]. 

As recently as 1970, only about 30 naturally occurring organohalogen compounds were known. It was simply assumed that chloroform, halogenated phenols, chlorinated aromatic compounds called PCBs, and other such substances found in the environment were industrial pollutants. Now, only a third of a century later, the situation js quite different. More than 5000 organohalogen compounds have been found to occur naturally, and tens of thousands more surely exist. From a simple compound like chloromethane to an extremely complex one like vancomycin, a remarkably diverse range of organohalogen compounds exists in plants, bacteria, and animals. Many even have valuable physiological activity. Vancomycin, for instance, is a powerful antibiotic produced by the bacterium Amycolatopsis orientalis and used clinically to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 

While participating in the European Union programme on risk assessment of existing chemicals, Euro Chlor (representing all major European chlorine producers), recognised the need to carry out a detailed risk evaluation on chemicals linked to the production of chlorine. In view of concerns about specific risks of organohalogen compounds to the marine environment as a sink for all watercourses, Euro Chlor focused on this environmental compartment, with emphasis on the North Sea. This sea area has been extensively studied and is controlled by the Oslo and Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (OSPARCOM). For a series of chemicals on lists of concern adopted by the North Sea Conference (1990), risk assessments are being carried out to demonstrate their variable environmental profiles. 

Bergman A, Athanasiadou M, Wehler EK, et al. 1999. Polybrominated environmental pollutants. Human and wildlife exposures. Organohalogen Compounds 43 89-92. 

Lindstom GUM. 1999. Aspects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers as indoor, occupational, and environmental pollutants. Organohalogen Compounds 43 445-446. 

Latumus F (2001) Marine Macroalgae in Polar Regions as Natural Sources for Volatile Organohalogens. Environ Sci Pollut Res 8 103... 

Ramu, K., Kajiwara, N., Lam, P.K.S., Jefferson, T., Zhou, K., Tanabe, S., 2006. Temporal variation and biomagnification of organohalogen compounds in Unless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from the South China Sea. Environ. Pollut. 144, 516-523. 

Malarvannan, G., Kunisue, T., Isobe, T., Takahashi, S., Sudaryanto, A., Prudente, M., Tanabe, S., 2007. Specific Accumulation of Organohalogen Compounds in Human Breast Milk from the Philippines Levels, Distribution, Accumulation Kinetics and Infant Health Risk. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Pioneering Studies of Young Scientists on Chemical Pollution and Environmental Changes, November 17-19, 2006, Ehime University, Matsuyama, lapan, pp. 175-178. 

The toxicity, bioaccumulative potential, and ecological impact of organohalogenated substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated d iben zo -pa ra - diox i n s (PCDDs), or polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) have been extensively reviewed.95 98 All are referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that is, chemical substances that remain in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose a risk to human health and the environment. The international community is calling for action to reduce and then eliminate the production or formation of these substances and to monitor their emission. In this case, the detectability obtainable by analytical methods should be very low, since the limits established for these residues are in the ng per liter range. 

Thomas GO, Wilkinson M, Hodson S, Jones KC. 2006. Organohalogen chemicals in human blood from the United Kingdom. Environ Pollut 141 30-41. 

Blessing R (1994), Poster auf dem Kongrefi Indoor Pollution". Innenraumluftbelastungen durch Dioxine und Furane (PCDD/PCDF)", 05.-07.10.1994, Ulm Rotard W (1991), Organohalogen Compounds 6 241-277.. .Sekundare Dioxinquellen", Eco-Informa Press, Bayreuth ISBN 3-928379-02-X... 

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