The levels of methylchloroform (MC) in various environmental media were determined at four production sites, one user site, and a background site. The ambient air level was determined on-site by direct injection of the ambient air into a gas chromatograph followed by detection and quantification with an electron capture detector. Water, soil, and sediment samples were returned to Battelle for analyses. For the analyses of water samples, MC was sparged from the water collected on a trap material using a commercial liquid sample concentrator. The trapped organic material was then backflushed onto a gas chromatograph column which was connected to an electron capture detector used to quantify the MC in the original sample. A similar technique was used for the quantification of MC in soil and sediment. The results from the analyses and detailed descriptions of the sampling locations are given and keyed to site maps. Considerable variation was observed in the maximum downwind levels of MC at various production plants. Concentrations in ambient air ranged from less than 0.3 ppb to 155 ppb. Concentrations in surface water in vicinity of production and user plants was even more variable ranging from fractions of a ppb to over 16 ppm. Concentrations in soil and sediment range from the limits of detection to over 6.1 ppm.

"Battelle Columbus Laboratories; Vincent J. DeCarlo, project officer; contract no. 68-01-1983." "EPA-560/6-77-025." "August 1977."