Analysis of Chlorinated Phenols, Phenoxyphenols and Dibenzofurans Around Wood Preserving Facilities

Until presently chlorophenol containing wood preservative has been widely used in Finland to protect timber, lumber, plywood and fiberboard against rot and bluestaining fungi at saw mills. We analysed soil, ground water, runoff and workers' urine at several saw mills for the presence of the various chemical components of the commercial wood preservative. We found serious local contamination of soil with chlorophenols and also with the minor, potentially very toxic minor constituents of the commercial product, namely polychlorinated phenoxyphenols and dibenzofurans. Chlorophenols were observed to contaminate soil at great depth. Ground water, surface water and also workers' urine was found contaminated by chlorophenols. Polychlorinated phenoxyphenols and dibenzofurans were found in great quantity (equal or close to that of chlorophenols) in the topmost 5cm of soil at the sawmill area, but these compounds had not penetrated into the soil at such great depth as did chlorophenols.