SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF WATER AND SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER OF THE RIVER ELBE FOR POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS (PCDDS) AND DIBENZOFURANS (PCDFS)

A sampling method for the determination of the particle-bound and diss olved PCDDs/Fs in the river Elbe is described. The suspended particula te matter (SPM) sample was taken by means of a centrifuge. For the wat er phase a sampling system with three modules was developed (FILAD I). The first two modules serve as filters, the third for solid/liquid-ex traction. Samples were analysed by HRGC/HRMS for PCDDs/Fs. The concent rations of the dissolved PCDDs/Fs were in the fg/L range. Detection li mit for dissolved PCDDs/Fs was 0,7 - 0,9 fg/L. Particulate organic car bon/water partition coefficients (Koc) were calculated. The results sh ow that the analysis of particle-bound PCDDs/Fs alone would be suffici ent to determine their concentration in the river Elbe. The difference s in PCDD/F concentrations and in isomeric patterns of SPM between two sampling points, one upstream and the other downstream of the harbour of Hamburg, are discussed.