PCDD AND PCDF IN AIR, SOIL, VEGETATION AND OILY RUNOFF FROM A TIRE FIRE

In early February 1990, vandals set fire to a used tire storage facili ty near Hagersville, Ontario, Canada, During the fire, the Ontario Min istry of Environment and Energy (MOEE) monitored the site and surround ing impact zone for numerous organic contaminants. Samples of air, soi l, vegetation, runoff water, and oily residue were collected and analy zed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated d ibenzofurans (PCDF). Air samples produced complex incineration pattern s with a large number of isomers detected. Total toxicity equivalents (TEQ) at 1 km downwind of the fire were an order of magnitude higher t han those at 3 km downwind. Soil samples collected during the fire did not show elevated PCDD or PCDF concentrations, however, low concentra tions were detected in vegetation collected at 100 m and 200 m from th e site. PCDD and PCDF concentrations in the foliage decreased with tim e but were still detectable for at least 200 days after the fire start ed. As the tires burned, water used to extinguish the fire caused runo ff of oil and oily water. Unique patterns of PCDDs and PCDFs were dete cted in these samples.