OCCURRENCE AND DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN TAP AND SURFACEWATERS OF THE GDANSK DISTRICT

The results of the determination of different classes of organic pollu tants (trihalomethanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesti cides, volatile hydrocarbons and phenols) in ground water and drinking water sampled at different sites in the Gdansk District are presented . Different methods were used to determine organic compounds in water: direct aqueous injection or sorption on solid sorbent (XAD-4) and ext raction with pentane followed by a gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) for determination of volatile organohalogen compou nds; purge and trap with a gas chromatography-flame ionization detecti on for determination of volatile hydrocarbons; sorption on solid sorbe nt XAD-4 or C-18, elution with organic solvent and GC-ECD for determin ation of pesticides; sorption on solid sorbent C-18, elution with orga nic solvent and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for determinati on of PAHs and sorption on solid sorbent C-18, elution with organic so lvent and high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet determina tion of phenols. The proposed methods have been used successfully for the determination of organic compounds in samples of tap, swimming poo l, river and sea waters. The content of analysed organic compounds in the water delivered to the water supply system for Gdansk from the sur face water intake in Straszyn and from other selected intakes satisfie s Polish, EC and WHO standards. The surface water bodies, i.e., rivers , sea and lakes in the Gdansk District are not very polluted by anthro pogenic compounds originating from municipal and industrial sewages an d from agriculture.