Organic halogens in landfill leachates

Using a group parameter, total organic halogens (TOX), high TOX concentrati ons were found in leachates and leachate contaminated groundwaters at two D anish mixed sanitary and hazardous waste sites. With commonly used screenin g procedures for organic contaminants, the individual halogenated organic c ompounds behind the high TOX could not be found. Conversely, part of the TO X could be attributed to halogenated humic substances that can not be analy sed with conventional organic contaminant analyses. Even though TOX can sti ll be considered an indicator of leachate contamination in the aquifers, at tempts to identify the halogenated contaminants behind the TOX using screen ing methods such as GC-MS will be unsuccessful in most cases.