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Highlights: [•] PCB11 and other PCB congeners were analyzed with HRGC coupled with HRMS. [•] High concentrations of PCB11 and PCBs were detected in all pigment samples. [•] PCB 11 was the major contributor of total PCB concentration. [•] 12 Dioxin-like PCBs were investigated and WHO-TEQ were calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, major toxicants in pigment wastewaters (i.e. raw wastewater and effluent) were determined by toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs), and changes in their toxicities due to combined gamma-ray (γ-ray) and ozone treatments were evaluated. From TIE results using Daphnia magna, Cr(VI) and o-toluidine were identified as major toxicants in the raw wastewater with concentrations of 2.47 and 25.3mgl−1, respectively. This was confirmed by subsequent spiking and mass balance approaches. For effluent, TIE results suggested that organic anions were likely responsible for the observed toxicities. Toxicity reduction tests showed that γ-rays with ozone treatment after coagulation was more efficient in reducing toxicities in the raw wastewater (3.9–2.0TU) than γ-ray treatment alone (3.9–3.1TU). For pigment effluent, γ-ray/O3 treatment resulted in a complete removal of the acute toxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]