Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and chlorophenols in rain and snow

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides and chlorophenols were measured in samples of rain and snow collected at urban and suburbadsemi-rural locations in the Zagreb City area, Croatia. PCBs and organochlorine pesticides were extracted with hexane from filtered aqueous samples and from particulate matter isolated by filtration. Chlorophenols were accumulated from rain and snow water by C18 reversed-phase adsorption. All samples were analysed by capillary gas chromatography using an electron-capture detector. Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in rain and snow water were checked by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of combined hexane extracts. PCBs were detected in all water (4-203 ng 1-1) and particle (40-4155 ng g-1) samples. The only organochlorine pesticide present in all rain and snow water (1-36 ng 1-1) and in particle (7-512 ng g-1) samples was y-hexachlorocyclohexane as a consequence of the regular local usage of lindane. A positive correlation was found between its concentration in the water phase and the average air temperature during the sampling period. Compounds of the DDT-type, trace amounts of which were detected in only two rain water samples, were determined in most particle samples. The DDE : DDT median concentration ratio in particles was lower than unity and indicated a recent input of DDT into the atmosphere. The incidence and concentrations of di-, tri-, tetra-and pentachlorophenols were higher in snow (single compound concentration 11-527 ng 1-1) than in rain (single compound concentration 2-171 ng 1-1). A quadratic decrease in chlorophenol concentrations in snow and rain with increasing air temperature was observed. Trace amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs were detected in both rain and snow water samples and the highest concentrations were measured for octa-CDD (2 pg 1-1 in snow and 6 pg 1-1 in rain).

Are Pine Needles Bioindicators of Air Pollution? Comparison of Organochlorine Compound Levels in Pine Needles and Ambient Air

“…The DDE/DDT ratio in ambient air samples is lower at Ksaver than at Jaku{evec (0.8 vs 2.2) (6). Low DDE/DDT ratios were found before in samples of snow and rain collected in 1990/92 (9) and air collected in 1997 in Zagreb (6). Over the past three decades, there has been no evidence of DDT use in Croatia.…”

Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Ambient Air Collected in Zagreb, Croatia

“…The p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT median concentration ratio is 1.0 in Ksaverska c. samples and 0.64 in Jakuševec samples. Low p,p'-DDE/ p,p'-DDT ratio has also been found by Fingler et al (1994) in samples of rain and snow collected from December 1990 to June 1992 at urban and suburban/semi-rural locations in the Zagreb city area. The p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT median concentration ratio of 0.25 and 0.7 on particulate matter isolated from rain and snow samples were obtained.…”

Organochlorine compounds in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and fallow deer (Dama dama L.) from inland and coastal Croatia

“…In Croatia, there are several reports about PCB and OCP presence in the environment, such as pine needles (Herceg Romanić and Krauthacker 2008), ambient air (Herceg Romanić and Krauthacker 2003), snow and rain (Fingler et al 1994), soil (Periš et al 2000), human milk (Herceg Romanić and Krauthacker 2006) and mussels (Kožul et al 2009). However, no data have been published about PCB and OCP levels in terrestrial wildlife, including herbivores.…”