Chlorohydrocarbons in pulp mill effluent and the environment II. chlorocymenes and chlorocymenenes

Seven chlorocymenes and three chlorocymenenes were determined in discharges of two Finnish kraft pulp mills, and in samples of water, sediment and pike (Esox lucius) in recipient and background watercourses in 1993. In addition, recipient fish samples in one of the mills caught in 1991 were analyzed. Study of unknown isomers of chlorinated cymenes and cymenenes were included. Detected levels of chlorocymenes were less than 32 ng/L in effluents, less than 1 ng/L in water samples, less than 51 ng/g dry weight in sediments and less than 92 ng/g lipid weight in fish samples. Only chlorocymenenes found were 2,3,6-trichloro-p-cymenene in fish sample of 1991 (220 ng/g lipid weight) and another trichlorinated cymenene with unknown structure in a sample of pulp mill effluent (31 ng/L). Discharged amounts and, consequently, environmental levels of chlorocymenes and chlorocymenenes were significantly reduced compared to earlier observations.