Chlorobenzenes and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in the atmosphere of Bitterfeld and Leipzig (Germany)

Concentrations of tetrachlorobenzenes. pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzen e and alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-HCH in air and deposition were measur ed at three different contaminated sites in Greppin, Roitzsch (both near Bi tterfeld) and Leipzig during five time intervals of 14 days in the summer m onths of 1998. The mean values of the chlorobenzene concentrations (gas pha se and particle bound portions) over the whole sampling time were 0.11 ng/N m(3) (Leipzig), 0.17 ng/Nm(3) (Roitzsch) and 0.37 ng/Nm(3) (Greppin), the m ean values of the HCH concentrations were 0.22 ng/Nm(3) (Leipzig), 0.31 ng/ Nm(3) (Roitzsch) and 0.69 ng/Nm(3) (Greppin). This increase of the concentr ation values from Leipzig over Roitzsch to Greppin indicates the influences of industrial waste sites in the Bitterfeld region on the atmospheric envi ronment. The significantly higher values of hexachlorobenzene, alpha- and b eta-HCH in Greppin are probably caused by emissions from the former chemica l plant Bitterfeld-Wolfen and the landfill 'Antonie' near Greppin. Compared with literature data from other industrial impacted areas the measured air concentration and deposition values are relatively low. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.