Abstract:
A summary parameter has been developed to determine potentially bioaccumulative substances (PBS) in waste waters. The summary parameter should act as a surveillance tool to control discharges, emissions and losses of bioaccumulative substances, because bioaccumulation is regarded as a hazard criterion for aquatic ecosystems, especially for the marine environment. According to the „Technical Guidance Document (TGD)“, a substance is assessed as potentially bioaccumulative, if its log POW is higher than 3. Therefore, the crucial step of the method is the separation of the PBS by semipreparative Reversed-Phase-HPLC. All organic compounds within a defined “lipophilicity window” (3 < log POW < 8) are collected, lyophilized and finally quantified gravimetrically with a semi micro balance. The method is applicable both to PBS in the liquid phase and PBS adsorbed to suspended solids. The PBS of several effluents of communal and industrial waste waters was determined.