Some New Sources of Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and Dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in Waste Papers and Recycled Pulps

Twelve samples of collected waste papers used for paper manufacturing were analysed. The PCDD/F values ranged from 2.96 to 9.97 ng I-TE/kg dry matter. All samples showed a different pattern of PCDD/Fs compared to those of chlorine bleached pulps, therefore it is obvious that the measured PCDD/F levels could be caused by different contamination sources during former processing and use. The investigation of two carbon-less copy papers showed only low amounts of PCDD/F, 0.88 and 7.27 ng I-TE/kg, respectively. The PCDD/F values of four printing ink samples ranged between 17.5 to 90.1 ng I-TE/kg application mixture, whereby all samples showed the same PCDD fingerprints as found in the waste paper samples. In a sample of sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP-Na) very high amounts (3374 myg I-TE/kg) were measured. It could be clearly shown that the use of pentachlorophenol (and its sodium salt) and printing inks cause an additional PCDD/F input into the waste paper and therefore in recycled pulp pr oducts, too.