Chemical compounds

released into the

environment: their
classification, source and
fate as well as their
environmental impact.
Chemical compounds released in the environment

Man-made compounds (PAHs, some heavy metals,

rocks erosion, etc.)
Antrophogenic compounds
Non toxic
Toxic (directly or through the
products of their transformation by non- Biodegradable compounds
specialized enzymes of the organisms)
Recalcitrant/Persistent compounds
Environmental fate of released pollutants
Main sources of released xenobiotic compounds (a)
The chemical industry produces more than 850 different synthetic
chemical products. Some of them (more than 50) are produced extensively
(2-10 million tons/year) for a variety of industrial and domestic purposes.

The main producers of synthetic chemicals are:

1) the petrochemical industry which produces gasoline and other refined
petroleum products (mixtures of haliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons), but
also pure chemicals (haliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols,
ethers, phenols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, frequently substituted with
chlorine atoms or amino- or nitro-groups) largely used, as solvents or
reagents, in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, as well as in
agriculture.

2) the pulp and paper industry (more than 200 halogenated haliphatic and
aromatic compounds including chloro-lignin compounds are produced
during the chlorine bleaching of pulp);
Main sources of released xenobiotic compounds (b)
Other industries use petrochemical products as reagents or
solvents to prepare more complex chemicals:
• the plastic industry (uses styrene, vinyl chloride, aniline, terephtalic
acids, methyl methacrylate, solvents, antioxidants, plasticizers, cross-
linking agents, etc. to produce polymers);
• the pesticide industry (uses benzene and heterocyclic derivatives,
as well as organophosphorous compounds, ureas, carbamates,
acetanilides and organometal compounds to produce the same
compounds substituted with halogen-, hydroxy-, alkoxy-, aryl-, nitrile-, nitro-,
and amino-groups);
• the cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical industry (uses and
produces a large array of complex synthetic organic compounds);
the textile industry (uses monomers and reagents to produce
synthetic fibres, halogenated haliphatic hydrocarbons for cleaning and
pesticides for insect/moth control, surfactants, dyes, etc );
the energy industry/combustion of fossil fuels (uses gasoline, i.e.
haliphatic hydrocarbon (70%) + aromatic hydrocarbons (30%) and diesel
fuel and produces polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitrated-hydrocarbons);
Main sources of released xenobiotic compounds (c)
• the paint industry (uses aromatic hydrocarbons, alkyl ketones and
acetates as well as preservatives containing Hg, chlorinated phenols or
formaldehyde, etc.);
• the electronics industry (uses halogenated haliphatic hydrocarbons,
toluene, xylenes);
• the metal industry (uses halogenated haliphatic solvents and
organic preservatives and releases metals);
• the explosive industry (uses and produces C-N-O compounds,
often cyclic, with the nitrogen atoms in azo-functionality or as a part of the
nitro group);
• the wood preservation industry (uses chlorinated phenols and
benzenes, pesticides and mixtures of phenols/xylenes/cresols called
creosote).
Finally, transport through sea or roads, as well as the use of chemicals in
agriculture (pesticides, herbicides, inorganic nutrients, etc) and at the
domestic level, (paints, cosmetics, personal care products, cleaning and
disinfecting products, pesticides, etc.), represent additional important
sources of contamination.
Main sources of released xenobiotic compounds (d)
Several of these chemicals are hazardous chemicals, according to
the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), as they are "chemicals
capable of causing damage to the ecosystem and/or to human health".

In fact, some of the most produced chemicals, such as haliphatic and

aromatic hydrocarbons substituted with halogens, nitro- or amino- groups,
are compounds foreign to the biosphere, i.e. non-biogenic compounds, also
referred to as anthropogenic, xenobiotic or man-made compounds.
Consequently, these chemicals are resistant to the microbial degradation
into the environment, i.e. are persistent or recalcitrant compounds.
For their hydrophobicity, some of such compounds accumulate in the food
chain where they can exert toxic effects.

Thus, hazardous chemicals should be produced and used in closed

industrial systems and any effluent stream from industrial plants, in
particular wastewaters, should be controlled and subjected to an adequate
chemical, physical or biological treatment.
Main priority pollutants released in the environment
Major priority pollutants
(according to EPA) which, given
their ducumented
bioaccumulation and toxicity
towards humans and living
organisms, should be produced
and employed in closed industrial
systems.
Xenobiotic compounds impacts on the Carbon turnover
 Contaminated sites:
hydrogeology structure and
fundamentals on
contaminants transport and
fate at the site (soil and
groundwater).
 Hydrogeological profile of a contaminated site (a)

FIELD LEVEL

UNSATURATED ZONE

A(d)sorption, chemical &

biological degradation

SATURATED ZONE A(d)sorption, deluction, dispersion

chemical & biological degradation

CLAY TABLE
Hydrogeological profile of a contaminated site (b)

A(d)sorption, chemical
degradation