Organic trace compounds in the water of the River Elbe near Hamburg. Part I.

Water samples of the River Elbe near Hamburg were analyzed for 145 organic chemical compounds. In part I results of the investigations concerning the following groups of compounds are presented (57 individual compounds): volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, chloroalkylethers (haloethers), chlorobenzenes, nitrobenzenes, chloronitrobenzenes, and chloroanilines. Highest concentrations were found for the chlorinated bispropylethers and 1,7-dichloro-3,5-dioxaheptane (haloethers). Other important compounds were nitrobenzene, nitrotoluenes, and chloronitrobenzenes. The results were assessed on the basis of German surface water quality criteria.