DETERMINATION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN TIRE FIRE RUNOFF OIL

Samples of oily runoff resulting from the accidental combustion of aut omobile tires were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCD Ds)and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). PCDDs and PCDFs were ide ntified in each of the oil samples studied. The total levels of PCDDs and PCDFs were in the low parts per billion (ppb; 10(-9) g of PCDDs or PCDFs per g of oil) range. In all of the samples analyzed, the total PCDD concentration was approximately 10 times greater than the total c oncentration of PCDFs. The most toxic PCDD, 2,3,7,8-T4CDD, contributed only a small percentage to the overall level of the PCDDs in the oil samples.