Potential Off-Flavour Compounds from Chloro-Bleaching of Pulp and Chlorodisinfection of Water

Chlorobleaching of pulp is the most important source of organochlorine pollutants in the Finnish aquatic ecosystems. Similar types of pollutants are formed during chlorodisinfection of water. The model compound approach employed in our laboratory has revealed the structures and amounts of pollutants formed and has made the interpretation and assay of individual organochlorine compounds in the environment possible. Tainting of fish near chlorination plants is frequently observed. Especially chlorinated phenols and anisoles (microbial metabolites of the former) are chlorination products which are known to have a strong odour and taste at very low concentrations. Other chlorinated products, wh…