ESTIMATION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURAN AND DIBENZO-P-DIOXIN CONTAMINATION OF A COASTAL REGION USING ISOMER PROFILES IN CRABS

Compared to other marine biota such as fish, crabs lack the ability to metabolize most of the polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) and dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) isomers. Therefore, they preserve nearly undisturbed the characteristic isomer profiles found in the wastewater from a magnesium production plant in southern Norway. The isomer pattern of this process shows significant differences compared to other PCDF/PCDD sources such as combustion or the pulp industry. The isomer distribution and concentration levels were determined in pooled samples of stationary male crabs, which were collected within a distance of a few kilometers and more than 100 km from the source. Two main isomer distributions could be identified, one belonging to the Mg process and one more similar to that earlier reported from the Skagerrak region. When statistical methods such as discriminant or variance analyses were employed, the coastal area contaminated by the factory could be estimated to ~50 km downstream the source. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.