Arylesters of alkylsulfonic acids in sediments - Part III of organic compounds as contaminants of the Elbe River and its tributaries

Sediments from the Elbe River and from its major tributaries are shown to be contaminated with arylesters of alkylsulfonic acids. Here we report on the structure elucidation and quantification of aryl eaters of alkylsulfonic acids, Chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric properties are discussed. Congener-specific analyses revealed 3 highly similar pattern throughout the area investigated. Alkylsulfonic acid phenylesters were present at almost all sampling locations. Amounts ranged from 33 000 mu g/kg near the industrial region of Bitterfeld to 15 mu g/kg in wadden sea sediments, Concentrations of alkylsulfonic acid cresylesters were between 10-40% of the phenylesters, and fell below the detection limit only in the Elbe estuary. The presence of aryl eaters of alkylsulfonic acids in all sediment samples analyzed indicates a widespread distribution of these compounds in the environment. Previous literature described these compounds erroneously as phenoxyalkanes.