A comprehensive monitoring study, sponsored by the Chemical Manufacturers Association and designed in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), measured the levels of nonylphenol (NP) and its ethoxylates (NPE) in 30 rivers. The sites, all receiving municipal or industrial wastewater, were selected at random from EPA’s United States river reach database by a statistical procedure. Water column and bottom sediment samples were collected along a perpendicular transect at each site. All samples were assayed for NP and NPE1, and the higher ethoxylates (NPE2 to NPE17) were determined in the water samples. Analysis was by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection of microgram quantities of NPE obtained by extractive steam distillation (NP and NPE1) or a dualcolumn extraction procedure (NPE2 to NPE17). Sample collection and analytical procedures were validated according to rigorous EPA guidelines, and quality assurance standards were met throughout the study. NP and NPE concentrations in river water were mostly (60 to 75% of the samples) below their detection limits (about 0.1 ppb for NP, NPE1, and NPE2; 1.6 ppb for NPE3–17). The highest levels found were about 1 ppb for NP, NPE1, and NPE2, 15 ppb for NPE3–17. A majority of sediment samples contained detectable amounts of NP and NPE1, ranging up to 3000 ppb for NP and 170 ppb for NPE1. Sediment interstitial water concentrations of NP were estimated to be similar to concentrations in the water column.

Abstract-Concentrations of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), dialkyltetralin sulfonates (DATS), and their biodegradation intermediates are reported for the influents and effluents of 10 U.S. domestic wastewater treatment plants as well as upstream and downstream river waters and sediments. Three types of treatment facilities in 10 U.S. states were sampled and analyzed. Removals were calculated based on initial concentrations of LAS and DATS. A derivatization electron capture/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method was employed. Its increased sensitivity and selectivity permitted the determination of environmental levels of LAS, DATS, and their biodegradation intermediates at low micrograms per liter (ppb) concentrations. The removal from four activated sludge and five trickling filter wastewater treatment facilities averaged 99.5% and 82.9% for LAS and 99.1% and 97.3% for LAS intermediates, respectively, for the activated sludge and trickling filter facilities. In the same plants, percent removals for DATS averaged 95% and 63.2% and DATS intermediates 59.1% and 58.7%, respectively. The removals obtained by a rotating biological contactor were similar to those observed in the activated sludge wastewater treatment facilities.

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A method is presented which is suitable for determining volatile organohalides in drinking water, natural waters, or effluent waters. The method is based on extraction into an organic solvent followed by measurement by electron‐capture gas chromatography. The lower detection limit for each organohalide component is less than 1 /μg/l with a relative reproducibility of ± 3 per cent. Routine samples can be monitored at a rate of 10–12 per hour.

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