Assessing forest fire as a potential PCDD/F source in Queensland, Australia

Prange, J. A., Gaus, C., Weber, R., Papke, O. and Mueller, J. F. (2003) Assessing forest fire as a potential PCDD/F source in Queensland, Australia. Environmental Science & Technology, 37 19: 4325-4329.


Author Prange, J. A.
Gaus, C.
Weber, R.
Papke, O.
Mueller, J. F.
Title Assessing forest fire as a potential PCDD/F source in Queensland, Australia
Journal name Environmental Science & Technology  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2003
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1021/es0343454
Volume number 37
Issue number 19
ISSN 0013-936X
Start page 4325
End page 4329
Total pages 5
Place of publication Washington USA
Publisher American Chemical Society
Collection year 2003
Language eng
Subject C1
321299 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
730210 Environmental health
Abstract Forest fires are suggested as a potential and significant source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), even though no studies to date provide sufficient evidence to confirm forest fires as a source of PCDD/Fs. Recent investigations in Gueensland, Australia have identified a widespread contamination of PCDDs (in particular OND) in soils and sediments in the coastal region from an unknown source of PCDD/Fs. Queensland is predominately rural; it has few known anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs, whereas forest fires are a frequent occurrence. This study was conducted to assess forest fires as a potential source of the unknown PCDD/F contamination in Queensland. A combustion experiment was designed to assess the overall mass of PCDD/Fs before and after a simulated forest fire. The results from this study did not identify an increase in Sigma-PCDD/Fs or OCDD after the combustion process. However, specific non-2,3,7,8 substituted lower chlorinated PCDD/Fs were elevated after the combustion process, suggesting formation from a precursor. The results from this study indicate that forest fires are unlikely to be the source of the unknown PCDD contamination in Gueensland, rather they are a key mechanism for the redistribution of PCDD/Fs from existing sources and precursors.
Keyword Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Dibenzo-p-dioxins
Wood Combustion
Distributions
Destruction
Vegetation
Sediments
Emission
Furans
Q-Index Code C1

 
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