Sampling, workup and analysis methods were developed for six B-chloroethers in air, water, soil and sediment samples to evaluate possible environmental contamination by this class of compounds. The six ethers were chloroethyl ethyl ether, chloroethyl/vinyl ether, bis-(2-chloroethyl) ether, bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether, bis(22-chloroethoxy) methane and bis(2-chloroethoxy) ethane. Four types of samples were collected near eight industrial sites which were potential emitters of B-chloroethers. The sites included four plants where propylene oxide is produced via the chlorohydrin route. One plant produced propylene chlorohydrin; one plant produced both ethylene chlorohydrin and propylene chlorohydrin, and had produced various B-chloroethers previously; one plant produced intermediates and surfactants for the textile industry; and one plant produced polysulfide rubbers. Air samples were collected by drawing air through Pyrex tubes packed with Tenax-GC using personnel sampling pumps. Water samples were collected either as grab samples or integrated 24-hour samples with a peristaltic pump. Soil and sediment samples were transported in glass canning jars. Air sampling tubes were desorbed with methanol with a procedure developed at MRC. Water samples were solvent extracted with methylene chloride. Soil and sediment samples were Soxhlet extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride extracts from the water, soil and sediment samples were each concentrated with a Kuderna-Danish evaporator to a volume of 2-3 ml.

Cover title: Environmental monitoring near industrial sites: beta-chloroethers. "Monsanto Research Corporation; contract 68-01-1980; project officer: John H. Smith." "EPA-560/6-78-003." "June 1978." Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-248).