ABSTRACT

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 Gdańsk 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, a-HCH, y-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 (frans-chlordane <14 pg/m³, cis-chlordane <8,1 pg/m³ and frans-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.