LEVELS OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXI NS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN-HOUSE DUST

The levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCD D/F) were determined in house dust samples collected from 22 residenti al houses located in different areas of Germany. Nine houses were loca ted in an urban and industrial area, one house in a rural and 10 house s in a contaminated residential area near to a former metal reclamatio n plant. Two house dust samples were collected from two old farm house s, in which large amounts of pentachlorophenol (PCP) containing wood p reservatives had been used several years ago. All dust samples were co llected from the dust bags of vacuum cleaners and passed through a sie ve (mesh: 2.0 mm). Particles < 2.0 mm were used for analysis. The aver age level of PCDD/F in ''normal'' house dust was 101 ng I-TEq/kg (rang e: 7.83-332 ng I-TEq/kg). The predominant congeners and chlorohomologu es were OctaCDD followed by HeptaCDD, HeptaCDF and OctaCDF. The averag e level of PCDD/F in house dust samples collected from a contaminated residential area was 265 ng I-TEq/kg (range: 29.9-1050 ng I-TEq/kg). W hen compared with ''normal'' residential houses significantly increase d levels of lower chlorinated PCDD/F were noted in the house dust samp les from this area. The house dust samples collected from a PCP-treate d old farm house were found to contain 1.39 and 11.8 mu g I-TEq/kg. Th e chlorohomologues patterns were typical for PCP contaminated with PCD D/F. The present study shows that the levels of PCDD/F in house dust m ay be used as indicators of indoor contamination by PCDD/F and as refe rence values for further investigations.