TRICHLOROACETIC-ACID IN PINE NEEDLES IN THE VICINITY OF A PULP-MILL

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentrations in Scots pine needles in the vicinity of a sulphate pulp mill, urban and rural areas were studied. TCA was analyzed by GC/NCI-MS/SIR method as its methyl ester. TCA lev els were 2-50 and 5-135 ng g-1 in the first-year and third-year needle s, respectively. No differences with TCA concentrations between the st udy areas were observed. However, low values under the most common plu me direction from the pulp mill, as well as the low average TCA concen tration in the vicinity of the mill area suggest that reactions with t he pulp mill emissions may inhibit TCA formation.