Persistent organic pollutants in agricultural soils of central Germany

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (HCHs, DDX, PCBs and HCB) w ere measured in topsoils from 11 agricultural fields in the lee of large di sused industrial plants in the Leipzig-Halle region at varying distances fr om emitters. The investigations clearly indicate the deposition of anthropo genic pollutant inputs, not only in the past. but also today. The pollution potential was assessed on the basis of current guide values and limits, as well as in relation to values found in agricultural soils elsewhere in Ger many, in Europe and in the USA. The reference values were mainly exceeded f or DDX and gamma -HCH (lindane). The PCB pattern was determined and the deg radation ratios between the parent substances and their metabolites (DDX an d HCH isomers) were calculated in order to distinguish between the previous and current pollutant input of pesticides by means of principal component analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.