Organic halogens in landfill leachates

Using a group parameter, total organic halogens (TOX), high TOX concentrations were found in leachates and leachate contaminated groundwaters at two Danish mixed sanitary and hazardous waste sites. With commonly used screening procedures for organic contaminants, the individual halogenated organic compounds behind the high TOX could not be found.

Conversely, part of the TOX could be attributed to halogenated humic substances that can not be analysed with conventional organic contaminant analyses. Even though TOX can still be considered an indicator of leachate contamination in the aquifers, attempts to identify the halogenated contaminants behind the TOX using screening methods such as GC-MS will be unsuccessful in most cases.