Temporal Changes and Pollution Sources for Dioxins in Papers of Periodical Publications

Abstract

Dioxins were determined in the margin area of paper material cut out from books. To confirm the temporal changes, “The Journal of Environmental Chemistry” (published from 1991 to 2020) and “The Bulletin of Saitama Institute of Environmental Pollution” (published from 1974 to 2000) were measured. The paper sample published in 1974 showed the highest TEQ with 6.6 pg-TEQ/g. This means a 40-sheet booklet contains as much as 1 ng-TEQ of dioxins. The dioxin TEQ decreased with time, and after 1997, the TEQ decreased sharply and has remained low since then. The TEQs before 1997 were significantly affected by chlorine-bleaching-origin dioxins. On a concentration basis, the influence of PCB-origin dioxins was significant throughout the period.