PATTERN-ANALYSIS OF POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS (PCB) IN MARINE AIR OF THE ATLANTIC-OCEAN

The patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in marine air samples of the North- and the South Atlantic were compared to each other by a congener ratio correlation, by the similarity index, which was calcula ted by two different algorithms, and by principal component analysis ( PCA). The calculations were done on the basis of the following fourtee n PCB congeners: the trichlorobiphenyls PCB 28, PCB 31, the tetrachlor obiphenyls PCB 44, PCB 49. PCB 52, the pentachlorobiphenyls PCB 87, PC B 101, PCB 110, PCB 118, the hexachlorobiphenyls PCB 138, PCB 149, PCB 151, PCB 153 and the heptachlorobiphenyl PCB 180. The three methods g ave basically the same results. The use of only the seven indicator PC B congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 did not alter the patte rn classification of the samples. There exists a typical marine clean- air PCB pattern in the lower troposphere of the Atlantic Ocean between 40 degrees North and 40 degrees South, which apparently reflects the air/sea water equilibrium. This marine clean-air pattern is significan tly different from a pattern of marine air samples influenced by conti nental air masses coming in from Europe or South America. This influen ce is marked by an increase of the levels of the higher chlorinated co ngeners. The PCB patterns in continental air samples from western Euro pe and the Great Lakes region in North America differ in their portion of lower chlorinated congeners.