Environmental Monitoring of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Using Pine Needles as Passive Samplers

Pine needles were used as passive samplers for monitoring polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. A method for the determination of PCB in pine needle wax was developed. By applying an HPLC-based cleanup procedure to wax extracts of pine needles, a high selectivity toward PCB was obtained. High precision and accuracy was achieved, as well as high relative (91-108 ± 4-8%) and absolute overall recoveries (81 ±14%). Pine needle wax from the central and northern parts of Europe were examined. High concentrations of PCBs with a profile shifted toward low molecular species were found in Western Germany (Σ 9 CBs = 47 ng/g of wax) when compared to the other investigated geographical sites (9 CBs = 4-7 ng/g of wax). © 1994, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.