http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~mugawa/benzene.gif 
| Volatile Organics | Synthetic Organics: Non-Volatile |
|---|---|
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Benzene Carbon Tetrachloride Chlorobenzene Styrene Toluene Vinyl Chloride |
Acrylamide Pentachlorophenol Polychlorinated Biphenyls 2,3,7,8-TCDD(dioxins) |
Other organics - See Pesticides
Summary of Limits/Standards for Organic Compounds
Benzene:
Synonyms: Benzol, phenyl hydride, coal naphtha, phene, benxole, cyclohexatriene
1. General Information: Benzene is a monocyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon liquid that is volatile, colorless, and highly
flammable with a characteristic odor and a density less than
that of water. Common benzene grades contain 50 to 100%
benzene, the remaining percentage consisting of toluene,
xylene, and other constituents distilling below 120oC. Benzene
is used in motor fuels; as a solvent for fats, inks, oils,
paints, plastics, and rubber; as an aid in oil extraction and
in photogravure printing; and in the manufacture of
detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyes (Sittig, 1981).
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (EPA, 1986; Sittig, 1981)
FW Aquatic Life 5.3 mg/l acute
SW Aquatic Life 5.1 mg/l acute
Human Consumption 0.0066 mg/l (based on lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 100,000.)
3. Health Effects: Benzene is a confirmed carcinogen. Benzene
exposure may cause myeloid leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and
lymphomas (Lewis, 1991). Exposure to liquid and vapor may cause eye,
skin, and upper respiratory tract irritation. Liquid
aspirated into the lungs may cause pulmonary edema and
hemorrhages. Scaly dermatitis may occur from drying of skin.
Acute exposures may depress the central nervous system,
causing headache, dizziness, nausea, convulsions, coma, and
death. Chronic exposure has caused blood changes such as
fluctuations in erythrocytes, leukocyte, and thrombocyte
counts. Bone marrow may become hyper- or hypo-active and may
not correlate with peripheral blood (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: Microorganisms will slowly biodegrade
benzene in soil and surface water.
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Benzene (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas 4.4 ug/l, but Impurities in the purge gas
Chromatographic/ Mass will vary with and organic compound
Spectrometric Method. equipment used. contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/ Mode of Transport:
a. Air: Vaporized benzene will photodegrade within one day.
Degradation products have a half-life of 13.4 days (Kubek et al., 1990).
b. Water: Benzene is slightly water soluble and will vaporize
from the surface of water. Benzene in surface water will
undergo degradation.
c. Soil: Benzene near or on soil surface will vaporize. Thus,
runoff potential is very low. Benzene that does not
vaporize will rapidly leach through the soil horizon and
possibly contaminate ground water supplies (Kubek et al., 1990).
http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~mugawa/benzene.gif Carbon Tetrachloride:
Synonyms: Tetrachloromethane, perchloromethane
1. General Information: Carbon Tetrachloride is a halogenated
aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid that is volatile, colorless, and
nonflammable with a characteristic odor. It is used primarily as a
solvent for oils, fats, lacquers, varnishes, rubber, waxes,
and resins and is also included in dry-cleaning solutions,
fire-extinguisher solution, and as a drying agent in spark
plugs (Sittig, 1981).
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (Sittig, 1981; EPA, 1986)
FW Aquatic Life 35.2 mg/l acute
SW Aquatic Life 50 mg/l acute
Human Consumption 0.004 mg/l (based on lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 100,000)
3. Health Effects: Carbon Tetrachloride is a confirmed carcinogen. Carbon tetrachloride
removes natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry and
cracked. Contact with eyes will cause irritation.
Extensive exposure will depress the central nervous system and
cause gastrointestinal disorder (Sittig, 1981; Kubek et al., 1990).
4. Environmental Effects: Exhibits extreme toxicity to mammals.
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Carbon Tetrachloride
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas 2.8 ug/l, Impurities in the purge
Chromatographic/ Mass but varies gas and organic compound
Spectrometric Method. with equipment used. contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/ Mode of Transport:
a. Air: Carbon tetrachloride will rapidly vaporize and remain
stable in the troposphere. Rapid photodissociaton will
occur in the stratosphere (EPA, 1979).
b. Water: Carbon tetrachloride is persistent and insoluble in
water. Its half-life in surface waters is 3 to 30 days; in
ground water: 3 to 300 days
c. Soil: Carbon tetrachloride is persistent and mobile in
soil. Thus, there is potential for contamination of
ground water supplies (Kubek et al., 1990).
Carbon tetrachloride will biodegrade under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
http://www.wbateman.demon.co.uk/newsums/sum4.2/sum4.21.gif 
Chlorobenzene:
Synonyms: Monochlorobenzene, chlorobenzol, phenyl chloride, MCB
1. General Information: Chlorobenzene is a monocyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon that exists as a clear, flammable liquid.
Chlorobenzene is used in the manufacture of aniline, phenol,
and chloronitrobenzene and as an intermediate in many pesticides.
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (EPA, 1986; Sittig, 1981)
FW Aquatic Life 0.25 mg/l acute
SW Aquatic Life 0.16 mg/l acute
0.13 mg/l chronic
Human Consumption 0.49 mg/l (based on lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 100,000)
3. Health Effects: Chlorobenzene is non-carcinogenic. Exposure will cause
irritation of eyes, nose, and skin. Exposure may also cause
depression of central nervous system and kidney and liver
damage (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: Chlorobenzene will bioaccumulate (EPA, 1979).
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Chlorobenzene (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas 6.0 ug/l, Impurities in the purge
Chromatographic/ Mass but varies gas and organic compound
Spectrometric Method. with equipment used. contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/Mode of Transport: Chlororbenzene is not
water soluble. In water, chlorobenzene will vaporize to the
air or sorb to sediments and particulates in the water column.
http://www.princeton.edu/
Styrene
Synonyms: Cinnamene, cinnamol, phenethylene, phenylethylene,
styrene monomer, styrol, styrolene, vinylbenzene
1. General Information: Styrene is a colorless to yellow, very
refractive, oily liquid with a pungent odor. Styrene is used
as an insulator, in drug manufacturing, and in plastic and
rubber production.
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (Sittig, 1981)
Human Consumption 0.9 mg/l (based on lifetime cancer
risk of 1 in 100,000)
3. Health Effects: Styrene is a suspected carcinogen. Styrene liquid and
vapor will irritate eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Acute
exposure may cause respiratory paralysis.
4. Environmental Effects: Under investigation
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Styrene (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas Varies according to Impurities in reagents,
Chromatograph Method equipment used. organic compound
contaminants in equipment.
Purge and Trap Gas Varies according to Impurities in reagents,
Chromatograph Method with equipment used. organic compound
Mass Spectrometer contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate: Under investigation
http://newtraditions.chem.wisc.edu/FPTS/fbform/1styrenf.gif
Toluene:
Synonyms: Toluol, methylbenzene, phenylmethate, methylbenzol
1. General Information: Toluene is a monocyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon that exists as a clear, colorless, noncorrosive
liquid with a sweet, strong, benzene-like odor. Toluene is
used as a solvent for paints, is a component of automobile and
aviation fuels, and is found in the manufacture of benzene and
benzene derivatives.
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (Sittig, 1981)
Freshwater Aquatic Life 17.5 mg/l acute
Saltwater Aquatic Life 6.3 mg/l acute
5.0 mg/l chronic
Human Consumption 14.3 mg/l (based on lifetime cancer
risk of 1 in 100,000)
3. Health Effects: Toluene may cause irritation of eyes, skin,
and respiratory tract. Acute exposure may lead to depression
of the Central Nervous System. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue,
muscular weakness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, coma, and
collapse (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: Toluene will undergo rapid microbial
degradation in soils and surface waters. Bioaccumulation may
occur in aquatic organisms.
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Toluene (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas Varies according to Impurities in reagents,
Chromatograph Method equipment used. organic compound
contaminants in equipment.
Purge and Trap Gas 6.0 ug/l; Impurities in reagents,
Chromatograph Method with but varies according organic compound
Mass Spectrometer to equipment used. contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/ Mode of Transport:
a. Air: Toluene will readily vaporize into the air, but will
quickly be washed out with rainfall. In the vapor state,
toluene is degraded by reaction with hydroxy radicals.
b. Water: Toluene will rapidly vaporize from surface water.
Toluene remaining in surface water will undergo microbial
degradation. The half-life in water can be days to weeks.
c. Soil: Toluene will vaporize from soil surfaces. Toluene
in soil is rapidly degraded. Once within the soil
horizon, toluene is moderately mobile and will likely
leach to ground water supplies. Toluene is slowly degraded
in ground water (Kubek et al., 1990).
d. Ground water: Toluene will persist in ground water.
http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/vchemlib/mol/simple/fuels/gifs/toluene.gif 
Vinyl Chloride:
Synonyms: Chloroethylene, chloroethene, monochloroethylene
1. General Information: Vinyl chloride is a halogenated aliphatic
hydrocarbon that exists as a gas at room temperature and a
liquid under cooled conditions. Vinyl chloride is used as a
solvent and as a chemical intermediate. Vinyl chloride is
most often encountered during the manufacture of polyvinyl
chloride (PVC).
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (Kubek et al., 1990)
Human Consumption 0.002 mg/l MCL
3. Health Effects: Vinyl chloride irritates the skin and eyes.
Contact with the cooled liquid may cause frostbite. Acute
exposure will depress the Central Nervous System. Vinyl
chloride is reported to be a possible human carcinogen (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: Vinyl chloride does not usually impact
aquatic systems because it rapidly evaporates from surface
waters (EPA, 1979).
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Vinyl Chloride (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Purge and Trap Gas not determined Impurities in the purge
Chromatographic/ Mass gas and organic compound
Spectrometric Method. contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/Mode of Transport:
a. Air: Vinyl chloride exists as a gas at room temperature.
Rapid degradation occurs via reactions with hydroxyl
radicals in the troposphere.
b. Water: Vinyl chloride will rapidly vaporize from surface
waters.
c. Soil: Vinyl chloride will vaporize from soil surface.
Once within the deeper soil horizons, vinyl chloride is
mobile and will leach to the ground water. Degradation
rates are minimal in soil.
d. Ground water: Vinyl chloride in ground water may degrade to
CO2 and chlorine ions (Kubek et al., 1990).
http://www.princeton.edu/
Acrylamide:
Synonyms: Propenamide, acrylic amide, acrylamide monomer
1. General Information: Acrylamide in monomeric form
consist of flat, white crystals that emit acidic odors when
heated. Acrylamide is used in the production of polymers as
polyacrylamides. Polyacrylamides are used in gel
chromatography, soil stabilization, electrophoresis, paper
strengthener, clarification and treatment of potable water,
and foods (Sittig, 1981).
2. Numerical Categories: 0 mg/l or level attainable with
best available technology (No U.S. criteria currently set)
3. Health Effects: Confirmed carcinogen. Exposure may
cause skin irritation, numbness of lower limbs, and excessive
sweating of hands and feet. Systemic effects from inhalation
and ingestion include Central Nervous and Peripheral Nervous System
damage causing ataxia, slowed reflexes, and loss of feeling (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: Under investigation.
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Acrylamide
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences (Kubek et al., 1990)
No standard method. 0.2 ug/l Impurities in reagents,
Suggested method: high organic compound
performance liquid contaminants in equipment.
chromatography (HPLC).
7. Environmental Fate/ Mode of Transport: Generally, acrylamide
is persistent under low temperatures and low oxygen levels and
is highly water-soluble.
a. Air: Degradation in the air occurs via reaction
with hydroxy radicals. The half-life is 6.6 hours
b. Water: Acrylamide is persistent under low temperatures
and low oxygen levels and is highly water soluble. Expect
rapid degradation in warm, oxygenated waters. The half Life is
8 to 12 days. Sediment adsorption is not significant.
c. Soil: Degradation usually occurs within 21 days. There is
potential for leaching to ground water (Kubek et al., 1990).http://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/images/glossary/Acrylamide.gif Pentachlorophenol Synonyms: PCP, Penchlorol, Dowicide EC-7, Dowicide G, Monsanto, Penta, Santobrite 1. General Information: Pentachlorophenol is a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that exists as a white to light brown flaky solid with a phenolic odor. Pentachlorophenol is a bactericide, fungicide, and slimicide used mainly in the preservation of wood. In the chlorinated hydrocarbon form it may be used as a general pesticide. 2. Numerical Categories: Designated Use Limit (Sittig, 1981) Freshwater Aquatic Life 0.055 mg/l acute 0.0032 mg/l chronic Saltwater Aquatic Life 0.053 mg/l acute 0.034 mg/l chronic Human Consumption 0.021 mg/l (no adverse effects) 3. Health Effects: Pentachlorophenol is a suspected carcinogen (Lewis, 1991). Exposure to PCP causes irritation of eyes, nose, throat. Other symptoms include weakness, anorexia, sweating, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pains, fever, and dermatitis (Sittig, 1981) 4. Environmental Effects: PCP is mildly lipophilic and will bioaccumulate (EPA, 1979). 5. Sources: See General Information. 6. Analytical Techniques: PCP (APHA, 1992) General Methods Detection Limits Interferences Liquid-Liquid Extraction Gas 3.6 ugl; Impurities in reagents, Chromatograph Method with Mass varies with organic compound Spectrophotometry equipment used. contaminants in equipment. Liquid-Liquid Extraction Gas 7.4 ug/l Impurities in reagents, Chromatography Method organic compound contaminants in equipment.
http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/htdocs/structures/2d/TR349.GIF
7. Environmental Fate/Mode of Transport:
a. Air: PCP in the vapor phase is usually associated with
particulate matter. PCP in the vapor phase is
photodegraded.
b. Water: PCP is mildly water-soluble and most will adsorb to
sediments and organic matter in the water column (EPA, 1979). PCP dissociated in water will be photodegraded
and biodegraded.
c. Soil: PCP may be very persistent in soil. PCP will adsorb
to soil but is mobile. Contamination of ground water
supplies is expected. PCP in soil will biodegrade within
weeks to months (Kubek et al., 1990).
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs):
Synonyms: Chlorodiphenyls, Arochlors, Kanechlors
1. General Information: PCBs are stable and non-flammable.
Appearance ranges from a clear mobile oil (12%-48% chlorine
content) to a white or off-white powder (68% chlorine
content). The synthesis of PCB involves a progressive
chlorination of biphenyl to produce chemicals with differing
chlorine content. In this process, the synthetic chemicals
become more stable with an increasing chlorine content.
Because a total of 210 isomers are possible, the physical
characteristics of the PCB will vary depending on the isomer.
PCBs are used in hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, adhesives,
and electrical transformers. Use is currently very limited. (Sittig, 1981; Connell et al., 1984).
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (micrograms/liter) (Sittig, 1981; Kubek et al., 1990)
Freshwater Aquatic Life 0.014 24 hr average
Saltwater Aquatic Life 0.030 24 hr average
Human Consumption 0.00079 (based on lifetime cancer risk
of 1 in 100,000)
3. Health Effects: Confirmed carcinogens. Prolonged skin
exposure may cause chloroacne and irritation of eyes, nose,
and throat. Ingestion may cause liver damage and stillbirth
in pregnant women. The degree of toxicity is a function of
the degree of chlorination. A higher degree of chlorine substitution
will elicit a stronger negative health effect (Sittig, 1981).
4. Environmental Effects: PCBs will detrimentally affect the
biota, including mammals, birds, and aquatic organisms.
Sublethal effects in mammals include liver enlargement and
damage, reduced weight gain and reduced growth, and
development of liver tumors. Because of high lipophilicity,
PCBs will rapidly transfer from the environment into the fatty
tissues of mammals and will bioaccumulate (Sittig, 1981). No
mutagenic or teratogenic effects have been noted in mammals.
PCBs cause a series of sublethal effects in birds, including
teratogenic effects, immunosupressive effects (leads to a
greater susceptibility to disease), and embryo death. PCBs
will bioaccumulate.
Aquatic organisms are sensitive to PCBs. PCB toxicity to
fishes decreases with increasing chlorine content. PCBs cause
a series of sublethal effects in a variety of aquatic
organisms, including inhibition of production in
phytoplankton, decrease in hatchability in fish eggs, and
reduction of survival rates in young fishes (Connell et al., 1984).
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: PCBs (APHA, 1992)
General Methods Detection Limits Interferences
Liquid-Liquid Extraction Gas Varies according to Impurities in reagents,
Chromatograph Method with Mass isomer. organic compound
Spectrophotometry contaminants in equipment.
Liquid-Liquid Extraction Gas Varies according to Impurities in reagents,
Chromatography Method isomer. organic compound
contaminants in equipment.
7. Environmental Fate/Mode of Transport: PCBs are hydrophobic
(low water solubility). PCBs discharged to aquatic
environments are readily adsorbed onto particulate matter
(sediment, organics) and ultimately are deposited in bottom
sediments. Thus, PCBs remain near the point of discharge.
Movement of PCBs depend on movement of associated sediment
(Connell et al., 1984).
PCBs will persist in soil (half-life in soil is five years).
Major losses only occur by evaporation and biotransformation.
Although PCBs are very resistant to metabolic breakdown by
organisms, some does occur in compounds with less than four
chlorine atoms.
http://www.lakemichigan.org/elimination/images/image12.gif
2,3,7,8-TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin):
Synonyms:
1. General Information: 2,3,7,8-TCDD is a toxic chemical
substance that is considered one of the most dangerous members
of the class of substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxin).
Dioxins are not purposely created; rather, dioxins are formed
as by-products of the manufacturing process of other
commercial chemicals. TCDD is a colorless crystalline solid
at room temperature.
Formation: Generally, dioxin only forms in temperatures of
180-400C. In addition, pressure, ultraviolet light, and the use of
catalysts can stimulate dioxin formation. Examples of
chemicals likely to result in dioxin formation are the
pesticides 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, silvex, and erbon. In addition,
combustion products of burning vegetation treated with one of
the above pesticides may also lead to dioxin formation (Connell et al., 1984).
2. Numerical Categories:
Designated Use Limit (Kubek et al., 1990)
Human Consumption 0.000013 mg/l
3. Health Effects: TCDD is a suspected carcinogen. TCDD often
induces the activity of enzyme systems and may cause teratogenic
effects (Connell et al., 1984).
4. Environmental Effects: Dioxins occur in low concentrations in
the environment, but are highly toxic. Dioxins are highly
lipophilic and will rapidly bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues
of terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
5. Sources: See General Information.
6. Analytical Techniques: Dioxin (APHA, 1992)
General Methods: Information on standard analytical methods is
unavailable.
7. Environmental Fate/Mode of Transport:
a. Air: Dioxins will adsorb to particulate matter borne by
air currents.
b. Water: Dioxins is highly hydrophobic (not water-soluble)
and will adsorb to benthic sediment and suspended
particles. Bond strength increases with an increase in
organic matter content. The rate of microbial degradation
increases as bond strength decreases. The half-life of
TCDD in soil is expected to be 1.3 to 2.9 years (Connell et al., 1984).
c. Soil: Photodegradation of dioxins at the soil surface is
the primary mode of decomposition. Once below the
surface, dioxins are persistent and non-mobile in most
cases. Dioxins strongly adsorb to soil particles. Bond
strength increases with an increase in soil organic matter
content. Some migration of dioxins is reported in soils
with extremely low organic matter content.
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NCSU Water Quality Group |
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