A methodology for assessing congener-specific partitioning and plant uptake of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDFs) emitted from a combustion source will partition between the vapor and particulate phase as a function of physicochemical and environmental properties. Physicochemical and chemical properties also affect the extent of PCDD/PCDF uptake into plants. This paper presents a simple method for analyzing the vapor: particulate partitioning behavior of dioxin-like compounds that incorporates congener-specific physicochemical properties and photolytic degradation rates and applies it to assessing environmental concentrations associated with uptake of vapor phase chemicals by plants. A case study from a hazardous waste combustion source is presented that compares the concentrations associated with direct particulate deposition to those from vapor phase uptake.