ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS USING PINE NEEDLES AS PASSIVE SAMPLERS

Pine needles were used as passive samplers for monitoring polychlorina ted biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. A method for the determinatio n of PCB in pine needle wax was developed. By applying an HPLC-based c leanup procedure to wax extracts of pine needles, a high selectivity t oward PCB was obtained. High precision and accuracy was achieved, as w ell as high relative (91-108 +/- 4-8%) and absolute overall recoveries (81 +/- 14%). Pine needle wax from the central and northern parts of Europe were examined. High concentrations of PCBs with a profile shift ed toward low molecular species were found in Western Germany (SIGMA 9 CBs = 47 ng/g of wax) when compared to the other investigated geograp hical sites (SIGMA 9 CBs = 4-7 ng/g of wax).