Background levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in British soils

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Chemosphere; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(86)90544-8· OSTI ID:7109466

Creaser, C S; Fernandes, A R

The concentrations of PCBs in soil samples collected at rural and urban locations in Britain are reported. PCBs were detected in all samples analyzed, within the range 2.3 to 444 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/ (ppb), with a mean concentration of 22.8 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/ and a median value of 7.2 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/. A distinct sub-group of samples has a range of 2.3 to 19.2 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/, with a mean of 7.5 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/ and a median value of 6.8 ..mu..g kg/sup -1/. These values are consistent with published data from other industrialized countries. Measurement was carried out using a two stage clean-up of soil extracts, with concentrated sulfuric acid and florisil, followed by gas chromatography and electron capture detection.

• Research Organization: Univ. of East Anglia, Norwich
• OSTI ID: 7109466
• Journal Information: Chemosphere; (United States), Journal Name: Chemosphere; (United States) Vol. 15:4; ISSN CMSHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
EUROPE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
RURAL AREAS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
UNITED KINGDOM
URBAN AREAS
WESTERN EUROPE