Identification of the Halogenated Compounds Resulting from the 1997 Plastimet Inc. Fire in Hamilton, Ontario, using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography and (Ultra)High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Between July 9-12, 1997, at least 400 tonnes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were consumed in a fire at the Plastimet Inc. plastics recycling facility in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This led to the release of contaminants, including highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). This study re-examines a composite soil sample collected shortly after the fire using state-of-the-art FT-ICR (Fourier transform ion …