Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in pine needles caused by atmospheric emissions of kraft pulp mills

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentrations in Scots pine needles were determined in the vicinity of two closely situated kraft pulp mills which use C102 as a bleaching agent. TCA in the needle samples was analyzed by the GC/NCI-MS/SIR-method as its methyl ester. TCA levels increased considerably when approaching the pulp mills. TCA may be formed as a degradation product of short chain chlorocarbons, which are volatilized from the spent bleach liquor or it may be released from the spent bleach liquor during the wastewater treatments. The impact of the pulp mill emissions could be observed 60-80 km from the mills downwind. Therefore the emissions of organochloro compounds from pulp mills are important locally, but they may also contribute to the overall organochloro compounds load of the environment.