Tetrachloro-9H-Carbazole, a Previously Unrecognized Contaminant in Sediments of the Buffalo River

Three sediment samples taken from the Buffalo River, New York, have been analyzed for polychlorinated planar molecules similar in structure to the highly toxic 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Although no TCDD was found, residues of chlorinated dibenzofuran, fluorene, biphenylene, phenanthrene (anthracene), naphthalene, and 9H-carbazole were identified. l,3,6,8-tetrachloro-9H-carbazole was identified as the major chemical of this type in the sediments, and quantified at levels as high as 25 ng/g at one site.