ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS ENCYCLOPEDIA ...

methylnaphthalene, and phenanthrene are the most commonly found in
diesel and are the individual compounds posing the highest
calculable risk due to ingestion [497].
Naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene, fluorene, and phenanthrene are
common PAH components of used motor oil [75].
Naphthalene, one of the more important components derived from
the second distillation fraction when distilling coal tar from
coal, is employed in the production of dyes and synthetic resins
[279]. It is also used for lubricants, explosives, fungicides, and
moth repellents and as a solvent and preservative [279].
Nearly all naphthalene entering the environment is released
directly to the air (92.2%). The largest source of emission (more
than 50%) is through inadvertent releases due to residential
combustion of wood and fossil fuels [766].
Naphthalene enters the atmosphere primarily from fugitive
emissions and exhaust connected with its presence in fuel oil and
gasoline. In addition, there are discharges on land and into water
from spills during the storage, transport and disposal of fuel oil,
coal tar, etc. [366].
About 5% of all naphthalene entering the environment is
released to water. Most of that amount is attributable to coal tar
production and distillation processes. Some naphthalene (about 60%)
from these sources is discharged directly to surface waters; the
remainder is distributed to wastewater treatment plants. The only
other contributions of any consequence enter the nation's waterways
from wood preserving industry effluent and from oil spills [766].
To study water soluble leachates from out-of service railway
ties, one gram of wood was shaved from the surface of the railroad
ties and agitated in water for 24 hours. Up to 88.9 ug/L of
naphthene was found in the water [864].
This compound is found in floor wax and many other products
and may be a lab contaminant [971].
Natural Sources [366]:
Component of crude oil; since naphthalene is a natural
combustion product, forest fires, etc may be a source of
naphthalene. (SRC) .
One common PAH, naphthalene, occurs naturally in the
essential oils of the roots of Radix and Herba ononidis
[Patty. Indus Hyg & Tox 3rd ed Vol2A, 2B, 2C, 1981-1982
p.3333].
Artificial Sources [366]:
Emissions from its production from petroleum refining and
coal tar distillation(1); Emissions and wastewater from
its use as a chemical intermediate(2); Motor vehicle
emissions; tobacco smoke(3); coal tar pitch fumes(1); Oil
spills(SRC). [(1) Verschueren K; Handbook of
Environmental Data on Organic Chemicals; 2nd ed Van
Nostrand Reinhold Co New York NY p.892 (1983) (2) Kirk-
Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology; 3rd ed 15:698