POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN SOILS NEAR A CLINICAL WASTE INCINERATOR IN MADRID, SPAIN - CHEMOMETRIC COMPARISON WITH OTHER POLLUTION SOURCES AND SOILS

Surface soils samples (0-5 cm) collected in the surroundings of a Clin ical Waste Incinerator (CWI) were analysed for Polychlorinated dibenzo -p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). PCDDs and PCDFs were fou nd at ppt levels at the 16 points sampled. The analytical data obtaine d reflect a slight contamination by PCDD/Fs in the area studied, but d o not clarify whether the CWI plant is the only PCDD/F source responsi ble for that contamination. The PCDD/F patterns and profiles from the investigated soils were compared chemometricly with those reported in the available literature, and indicated that the investigated soils ha ve a typical combustion profile and pattern. They were similar to typi cal emission combustion sources such as traffic, clinical waste incine rators, and combustion of materials containing polychlorinated bipheny ls (PCBs) such as electrical wires and illegal scrap materials. Copyri ght (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd