By-products of a former phenol manufacturing site in a small lake adjacent to a Superfund site in the Aberjona watershed.

Benzene, diphenyl sulfone (DPS), para-hydroxybiphenyl (PPP), ortho-hydroxybiphenyl (OPP), higher hydroxybiphenyls, and alkylated benzenes were found in a small lake receiving contaminated groundwater discharge from the Industri-Plex Superfund site (Woburn, MA) in the Aberjona watershed in eastern Massachusetts. All of these chemicals may derive from the former phenol manufacturing activities present at the Industri-Plex site during World War I. Concentrations up to 1660 microgram/l benzene, 450 micro/l DPS, 230 microgram/l PPP, and 100 microgram/l OPP were detected in the hypolimnion. Epilimnetic concentrations of the chemicals were significantly lower (normally < 5 microgram/l). DPS showed a distinct seasonal behavior: It was readily biodegradable during warm periods. No biodegradation was observed in the winter, leaving export to the Aberjona River as the major removal mechanism. Although benzene is known to be toxic and a human carcinogen, our results indicate that DPS, OPP, and PPP are not mutagenic in tests using human MCL-5 and h1A1v2 cell lines.