Organic trace compounds in the water of the River Elbe near Hamburg Part I

Water samples of the River Elbe near Hamburg were analyzed for 145 organic chemical compounds. In part I results of the investigations concerning the following groups of compounds are presented (57 individual compounds): volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, chloroalkylethers (haloethers), chlorobenzenes, nitrobenzenes, chloronitrobenzenes, and chloroanilines. Highest concentrations were found for the chlorinated bispropylethrs and 1,7-dichloro-3,5-dioxaheptane (haloethers). Other important compounds were nitrobenzene, nitrotoluences, and chloronitrobenzenes. The results were assessed on the basis of German surface water quality criteria.