LEVELS OF PCDD FS IN SOIL SAMPLES IN THE VICINITY OF A MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE INCINERATOR/

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were det ermined in 24 soil samples collected near a municipal solid waste inci nerator (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain). Soil samples were obtained at v arious sites within 1.5 km from the stack. Total PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 0.225 to 5.80 ng TEQ/kg dry matter (d.m.) with a median v alue of 0.799 ng TEQ/kg and a mean value of 1.080 ng TEQ/kg. No remark able PCDD/F contamination was found. The results were consistent and e ven lower than those reported in other international studies. Principa l Component Analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to co mpare these soil samples with a set of 10 additional samples collected outside the influence of the plant. Principal Component and hierarchi cal cluster analyses of soils in the vicinity of the incinerator provi de patterns of PCDD/Fs quite similar from those obtained in soils coll ected far from the influence of that facility. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.