Table B-1. Environmental Levels of Dioxins in Soil (ppt)

Chemical

 

Number samples

Number positive samples

Concentration

range

Conc. mean

Location

 

Location

description

Sample year

Ref. no.

Comments

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (MW=321.98)

2,3,7,8-TCDD

77

NR

ND-2.1

<0.5

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

3

0

ND(0.2-2.0)

NA

Various parts of Europe

Rural

NR

10

 
 

2

2

2.4-0.84

1.62

Various parts of Europe

Industrial

NR

10

 
 

23

23

10-36000

2133

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

62

59

ND-270

55

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

13

1

ND-2

<1

Henry, IL

Residential

 

1

 
 

22

6

ND-5

1

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

4

0

ND(1.0)

NA

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

NR

NR

NR

2

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

33

33

41-52000

4300

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

3

 
 

11

9

ND-590

145

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

3

 
 

20

13

ND-9.4

2

US

Industrial

 

3

Urban area

 

8

8

0.6-3.1

2

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

0

ND(3.75)

NA

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

 

12

12

1-7

3

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

 

19

6

ND-4.2

1

England

Urban

 

8

 

TCDDs

1

1

3.2

3.2

Various parts of Europe

Rural

 

10

 
 

77

NR

ND-69

9.4

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

NR

NR

200

NR

Muggenburger st. Hamburg,Germany

Industrial

1985

12

Maximum contents reported

 

NR

NR

2.8

NR

Kirchsteinbek,

Hamburg,Germany

Industrial

1985

12

Maximum contents reported

 

NR

NR

0.9

NR

Ochsenwerder Landscheideweg,

Hamburg,Germany

Contaminated site

1985

12

Maximum contents reported

 

NR

NR

874

NR

Moorefleeter Brack Hamburg,Germany

Contaminated site

1985

12

Maximum contents reported

TCDDs (continued)

47

11

ND-430

40.3

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Urban

 

13

 
 

2

2

11.2-55.5

33.4

Various parts of Europe

Industrial

 

10

 
 

1

1

320

320

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

7

5

ND-290

109

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

5

0

ND(1.0)

NA

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

3

0

ND(1.0)

NA

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

NR

NR

NR

89

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

11

NR

ND-7

<1

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

12

NR

ND-430

69

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

53

0

ND(55)

NA

Canada

Rural

 

4

 
 

29

NR

ND-1200

69

Canada

Urban

 

4

 
 

8

8

37-217

98

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

0

ND(3.75)

NA

Elk River, MN

Agriculture

 

6

 
 

12

12

17-120

42

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

 

19

19

9-160

65

England

Urban

 

8

 

Pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (MW=356.42)

1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD

NR

NR

NR

15

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

8

8

2.6-18.3

10

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

0

ND(3.75)

NA

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

 

19

7

ND-11

2

England

Urban

 

8

 
 

77

NR

ND-2.4

<0.5

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 

PeCDDs

1

1

4.6

4.6

various parts of Europe

Rural

 

10

 
 

2

2

220-270

245

various parts of Europe

Industrial

 

10

 
 

77

NR

ND-46

6.6

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

47

7

ND-580

38.4

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Urban

 

13

 

PeCDDs (continued)

1

1

240

NA

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

6

2

ND-120

37

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

5

0

ND(1.0)

NA

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

3

0

ND(1.0)

NA

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

NR

NR

NR

900

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

11

NR

ND-580

53

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

12

NR

ND-540

81

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

53

0

ND(55)

NA

Canada

Rural

 

4

 
 

29

NR

ND-130

23

Canada

Urban

 

4

 
 

8

8

46-476

159

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

1

ND-38

10

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

 

12

12

4-50

20

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

 

19

19

6-190

69

England

Urban

 

8

 
 

13

13

33.7-1264

302

Salzburg, Austria

Urban

90-91

14

 
 

6

6

7.1-184

49.9

Salzburg, Austria

Rural

90-91

14

 
 

5

5

92.2-455

181

Salzburg, Austria

Industrial

90-91

14

 

Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (MW=390.87)

1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD

NR

NR

NR

<2

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

8

8

4.3-8.0

6

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

0

ND(3.75)

NA

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD

NR

NR

NR

2100

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

8

8

3.3-32.2

12

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

1

ND-14

4

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

AGriculture

1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD

NR

NR

NR

700

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

8

8

1.6-16.6

8

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

2

ND-9.9

9

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

HxCDDs

1

1

4.7

4.7

Various parts of Europe

Rural

 

10

 
 

2

2

200-330

265

Various parts of Europe

Industrial

 

10

 
 

77

NR

2.8-165

38

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

47

13

ND-410

38.12

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Urban

 

13

 
 

20

8

ND-240

44.1

Canada and U.S.A.

Industrial

 

13

 
 

1

1

4000

4000

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

7

5

ND-410

172

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

5

1

ND-72

14

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

3

0

ND(1.0)

NA

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

NR

NR

NR

7200

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

11

NA

ND-170

15

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

12

NA

ND-70

9

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

53

0

ND(55)

NA

Canada

Rural

 

4

 
 

29

0

ND(55)

NA

Canada

Urban

 

4

 
 

8

8

43-349

156

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

4

12-99

48

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

 

12

12

8-43

23

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

 

19

19

23-340

154

England

Urban

 

8

 

Heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (MW=425.31)

1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD

NR

NR

NR

4700

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

8

8

43-492

144

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

4

37-360

194

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

1,2,3,4,6,7,9-HpCDD

NR

NR

NR

7100

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 

HpCDDs

3

1

ND-17

9.0

Various parts of Europe

Rural

 

10

 
 

2

2

370-1600

985

Various parts of Europe

Industrial

 

10

 
 

77

NR

7.5-234

66

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

30

3

ND-91

5.4

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Rural

 

13

 
 

47

25

ND-2400

212

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Urban

 

13

 
 

20

19

ND-5000

1197

Canada and U.S.A.

Industrial

 

13

 

HpCDDs (continued)

1

1

75000

75000

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

7

7

150-2400

930

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

5

5

23-200

113

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

3

3

25-91

54

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

11

NR

ND-390

90

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

12

NR

ND-300

43

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

53

0

ND(55)

NA

Canada

Rural

 

4

 
 

29

NR

ND-1100

93

Canada

Urban

 

4

 
 

8

8

83-904

277

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

4

62-640

346

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

 

12

12

20-130

64

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

 

19

19

77-5500

817

England

Urban

 

8

 

Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (MW=460.76)

1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD

1

1

14

14

Various parts of Europe

Rural

 

10

 
 

2

2

140-160

160

Various parts of Europe

Industrial

 

10

 
 

77

NR

29-832

191

British Isles

Background

NR

11

 
 

30

17

44-810

67.33

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Rural

 

13

 
 

47

38

ND-12000

1599

Ontario and U.S. Midwestern States.

Urban

 

13

 
 

20

20

15-26000

3442

Canada and U.S.A.

Industrial

 

13

 
 

1

1

375000

375000

Midland, MI

Industrial

 

1

 
 

7

7

330-12000

4473

Midland, MI

Residential

 

1

 
 

5

5

170-10600

2418

Middletown, OH

Residential

 

1

 
 

3

3

25-91

54

MN

Pristine

 

1

 
 

NR

NR

NR

6200

Finland

Industrial

 

2

 
 

11

NR

ND-3500

663

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

12

NR

ND-1500

570

Canada

   

4

Near Incinerator

 

53

NR

ND-100

31

Canada

Rural

 

4

 
 

29

NR

ND-16000

2464

Canada

Urban

 

4

 
 

8

8

113-2659

687

Sweden

Urban

 

5

Near Stockholm

 

4

4

340-3300

1655

Elk River, MN

Rural

 

6

Agriculture

1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD

12

12

20-150

58

England

Residential

 

7

Rural

(continued)

19

19

176-99000

9980

England

Urban

 

8

 

Footnote References

NOTES: Summary statistics provided in or derived from references; when reference did not compute mean, it was computed using one-half the detection limit for non-detects;

NA = Not applicable;

ND = Non-detect;

NR = Not reported;

Detection limits varied by study and as was different for different compounds, but generally were 1 to 5 ng/kg (ppt). Descriptions provided were those given by reference or surmised from study description when not given.

 

Sources:

1. EPA (1985) 8. Creaser, et al. (1990)

2. Kitunen and Salkinoja-Salonen (1990). 10. Rappe and Kjeller (1987)

3. Nestrick, et al. (1986). 11. Creaser, et al. (1989)

4. Pearson, et al. (1990). 12. Sievers and Friesel (1989)

5. Broman, et al. (1990). 13. Birmingham (1990)

6. Reed, et al. (1990). 14. Boos, et al. (1992)

7. Stenhouse and Badsha (1990).