Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin quantitation in stack-collected coal fly ash

Gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry has been used to quantitate tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in fly ash collected from the stack of a typical commercial coal-fired power plant. No TCDD was detected in this fly ash, but minute traces may be present below the detection limit of 1.2 parts per trillion (by weight). This finding indicates that this type of fossil-fueled power plant is not a large source of this compound in environmental samples, in contrast to the conclusions presented in a recent industrial report.