A STUDY ON POLLUTION BY VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN GROUNDWATER IN AN AREA OF THE PROVINCE OF TURIN (ITALY)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) were detected in the water of eleven wells in the Turin area. This water, after suitable a purifyng treatme nt, is to be used for human consumption. Analyses were carried out by gaschromatography using a Purge & Trap (P&T) system for preconcentrati on of the samples and a PID (Photoionization) and ELCD (Electrolytic C onductivity) as detectors. The results revealed that the total quantit y of VOC in the water of some of the wells was over 30 mu g/L, which i s the upper limit permitted by Italian law for drinking water. The ana lytical results were processed using multivariate statistical techniqu es. Factor analysis, performed after rotation of the main components, identified four significant factors of pollution.