POLYCHLORINATED NAPHTHALENES - AN ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs; CNs) form a complex mixture of up to 75 congeners containing from one to eight chlorine atoms per naphth alene molecule. Chloronaphthalenes are widespread global environmental pollutants which accumulate in biota. All chloronaphthalenes are plan ar compounds and can contribute to the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor- mediated mechanism of toxicity with a combination of various 2,3,7,8-t etrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin like toxic responses. There are three known main sources of environmental pollution with PCNs: technical PCN form ulations, technical polychlorinated biphenyl formulations, and thermal and other processes in the presence of chlorine. The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the most recent data on environmental pollu tion, chemistry, analysis, sources, formation, persistence, toxicity a nd behavior of PCNs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.