THE INFLUENCE OF EXPOSURE TIME AND TRANSPORTATION ROUTES ON THE PATTERN OF ORGANOCHLORINES IN PLANTS FROM A POLLUTED REGION

The levels and residue profiles of polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), polychlo ronaphthalenes (PCN) and chlorabenzenes (CBz) in plants (grass, pine n eedles) from a region contaminated with the corresponding technical co mpounds from an electroindustrial plant are presented. Levels and resi due profiles of these compounds are influenced by the distance from th e source of pollution, the exposure time and the transportation routes . PCB levels in pine needles decrease with distance from the site of p ollution: at 50 m they were 2.2; at 200 m 0.15; and at 10 km 0.01 mu g /kg dry wt., respectively. PCN were detected only nearby the source of contamination. Tri- and tetra-CBz were about 1:100 of the PCB level a t 50 m and 1:4 of the PCB level at 10 km from the source of contaminat ion. Higher chlorinated and planar compounds of low vapour pressure we re enriched in plants. Enrichment in plants increases with K-oa of the organochlorine and the exposure time. Different transportation routes from the source of pollution to plants via (i) air-plant; (ii) river water-air-plant influence the composition of chlorine homologues in pl ants. The differences in the profile of organochlorines in plants was compared with physicochemical data on the individual components. Analy ses were performed by GC/ECD and GC/MS/MS.