CHLORINATED SHORT-CHAIN ALIPHATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN PINE NEEDLES BY PURGE-AND-TRAP GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

The concentrations of volatile chlorinated short chain aliphatic hydro carbons in pine needles have been measured using purge and trap GC/MS. The concentrations of dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethene and tetrachloroethene in the needles were calculated. The concentrations of dichloromethane and tetrachloroethene were highest. As a rule the c oncentrations were higher in the older needles. The needle samples wer e collected from five sampling points in an area situated in the South ern Finland in the vicinity of a metal scrab plant. Reference needles were collected in the Central Finland. Needles originated from years 1 991, 1992 and 1993.