Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in soils from the southern part of Poland.

Surface soil and sediment samples collected from the cities of Kraków, Katowice, and Chorzow in 1993-94 were analyzed to determine the residual levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides (HCB, HCHs, DDTs, CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Detection, identification, and quantification were made after a two-step clean-up and fractionation of sample extract with concentrated sulfuric acid and Florisil gel, followed by capillary gas chromatography with a 63Ni electron capture detector (GC-ECD) or a mass selective detector (GC-LRMS). The soil from the city of Katowice is relatively more polluted, mainly by PCBs but also by the other organochlorines. Both the soil in the cities of Kraków and Katowice are more polluted by organochlorines than soil from many other places in Poland. The residual concentrations of the organochlorines indicated nonexistence of the domestic sources of pollution by CHLs and elevated local contamination with PCBs. Sediment contained PCBs and CHLs in much higher concentrations than found in soil. In the case of DDTs, HCHs and HCB, the concentrations were of the same order of magnitude. Composition of DDT metabolites and of HCH isomers were investigated in detail.

[Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in soils in Poland]. / Polichlorowane bifenyle i pestycydy chloroorganiczne w glebach w Polsce.

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, HCBz and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 59 soil samples collected in Poland in 1990-1994 to understand the scale of contamination, spatial distribution and sources of these compounds. Identification and quantification of organochlorines were carried out using HRGC-ECD (63Ni) and HRGC-LRMS. All soil samples were contaminated by DDTs, PCBs and HCHs, while HCBz and CHLs were absent in a few samples. DDTs dominated as organochlorine residues in Polish soil and on the concentration of other insecticides was two orders of magnitude lower. Percentage composition of DDTs (about 60% of p,p'-DDT) indicates a very slow metabolism of DDT in Polish soils. Spatial distribution of HCHs in Poland is similar to distribution of DDTs, while HCBz and CHLs are rather evenly distributed. PCBs concentrations in soil of the Former Soviet Union Army Base are 10 times higher then in urban soils, and 100 times higher then in cultivated and forests soils.

[Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the Vistula river water]. / Pestycydy chloroorganiczne i polichlorowane bifenyle w wodzie wislanej.

The composition and loads of organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCBs, HCHs, CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) transported with the Vistula River waters to the Gulf of Gdansk in 1991-1992 has been determined. The method of organochlorine compounds measurement was capillary gas chromatography with ECD after adsorption of the analyte on Ambertlite XAD-2, resin and subsequent elution, clean-up and HPLC fraction of the extract. The concentrations of DDTs, HCBs, HCHs, CHLs and PCBs in the Vistula River water ranged between 120-840, 7.6-52, 1600-410,000, 8.1-57 and 120-300 pg/l, respectively. During 12 months period of the study the total load of DDTs, HCBz, HCHs, CHLs and PCBs transported with the Vistula River water to the Gulf of Gdansk was assessed on 10.54, 0.73, 1377, 0.38 and 5.02 kg, respectively.

[Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in ambient air in the city of Gdansk]. / Pestycydy chloroorganiczne i polichlorowane bifenyle w powietrzu atmosferycznym w Gdansku.

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, HCB and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in ambient are samples collected in city of Gdansk in 1991-1992 to understand concentrations, sources and seasonal distribution. Polyurethane foam plugs were used as adsorbents for collection of persitent organochlorines in ambient air samples. Identification and quantification of organochlorines were carried out using a capillary column gas chromatography and ECD (63Ni) detection. HCB, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD and PCBs were detected in all samples, while the constituents of technical chlordan were absent in concentration above the detection limit of the method (trans-chlordane < 14 pg/m3, cis-chlordane < 8.1 pg/m3 and trans-nonachlor < 7.4 pg/m3). The concentrations of HCB and PCBs were depended on the air temperatures, hence their main source can be related to a process of degasing from the soil.