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Pine needles were used as passive samplers for monitoring polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. A method for the determination of PCB in pine needle wax was developed. By applying an HPLC-based cleanup procedure to wax extracts of pine needles, a high selectivity toward PCB was obtained. High precision and accuracy was achieved, as well as high relative (91-108 f 4-8 % ) and absolute overall recoveries (81 i 14%). Pine needle wax from the central and northern parts of Europe were examined. High concentrations of PCBs with a profile shifted toward low molecular species were found in Western Germany (C 9 CBs = 47 ng/g of wax) when compared to the other investigated geographical sites (c 9 CBs = 4-7 ng/g of wax).

The selectivity of the Shpol'skii fluorescence analytical technique, using real samples, is shown and is In some cases compared with that of fluorescence at room temperature. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to separate the sample Into fractions and glass capillary gas chromatography [(GC)2] of each fraction was performed in order to quantify the content of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The Shpol'skii fluorescence spectra of some PAHs are shown to be distinct and predominant even though the concentration of the compound In question is relatively small.

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