S. Fingler et al., ANALYSIS OF POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS, ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND CHLOROPHENOLS IN RAIN AND SNOW, Analyst, 119(6), 1994, pp. 1135-1140
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides and chloro
phenols were measured in samples of rain and snow collected at urban a
nd suburban/semi-rural locations in the Zagreb City area, Croatia. PCB
s and organochlorine pesticides were extracted with hexane from filter
ed aqueous samples and from particulate matter isolated by filtration.
Chlorophenols were accumulated from rain and snow water by C-18 rever
sed-phase adsorption. All samples were analysed by capillary gas chrom
atography using an electron-capture detector. Polychlorinated dibenzod
ioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in rain and snow water were c
hecked by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of combined
hexane extracts. PCBs were detected in all water (<1-203 ng l(-1)) and
particle (40-4155 ng g(-1)) samples. The only organochlorine pesticid
e present in all rain and snow water (1-36 ng l(-1)) and in particle (
7-512 ng g(-1)) samples was gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane as a consequen
ce of the regular local usage of lindane. A positive correlation was f
ound between its concentration in the water phase and the average air
temperature during the sampling period. Compounds of the DDT-type, tra
ce amounts of which were detected in only two rain water samples, were
determined in most particle samples. The DDE:DDT median concentration
ratio in particles was lower than unity and indicated a recent input
of DDT into the atmosphere. The incidence and concentrations of di-, t
ri-, tetra- and pentachlorophenols were higher in snow (single compoun
d concentration 11-527 ng l(-1)) than in rain (single compound concent
ration 2-171 ng l(-1)), A quadratic decrease in chlorophenol concentra
tions in snow and rain with increasing air temperature was observed. T
race amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs were detected in both rain and snow wa
ter samples and the highest concentrations were measured for octa-CDD
(2 pg l(-1) in snow and 6 pg I-1 in rain).