TRICHLOROACETIC-ACID (TCA) IN PINE NEEDLES CAUSED BY ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS OF KRAFT PULP-MILLS

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentrations in Scots pine needles were d etermined in the vicinity of two closely situated kraft pulp mills whi ch use ClO2 as a bleaching agent. TCA in the needle samples was analyz ed by the GC/NCI-MS/SIR-method as its methyl ester. TCA levels increas ed considerably when approaching the pulp mills. TCA may be formed as a degradation product of short chain chlorocarbons, which are volatili zed 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. Th erefore the emissions of organochloro compounds from pulp mills are im portant locally, but they may also contribute to the overall organochl oro compounds load of the environment.