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(W/FF234) Preliminary Data on PCBs in soil and Biological Samples in Chile. Barra, Ricardo1, Mendoza, Gonzalo1, Pacheco, Patricia 1, Urrutia, Roberto1, 1 ABSTRACT- A monitoring program of soils and biological samples was performed during the year 2000 at several locations in Chile in order to contribute to the identification of potential pollution hot spots from old uses of PCBs, particularly in heavily industrialized zones with mining, steel refineries, hydroelectric facilities, pulp and paper mills, etc... Samples of surface soils (0-10 cm), pine needles, and the marine bivalve Perumytilus purpuratus were collected in 15 localities from northern to southern Chile. All samples were lyophilized, and PCBs were extracted with Soxleth (24 hrs) in n-hexane. Samples were cleaned with florisil and analyzed by GC-ECD. Blanks, reference materials and standards were processed along with the samples. Recoveries were higher than 65% for all 50 PCB congeners analyzed. In general, results reflect the presence of nearby PCB sources, which generate a characteristic fingerprint in polluted areas. High concentrations (760 ng g-1 on a lipid basis for P.purpuratus, 204 ng g-1 lipid basis for Pine needles, and 146 ng g-1 d.w. for soils) were found near an urban effluent, an hydroelectric complex and a pulp mill, respectively. In addition, results could be related to areas where old transformers were stored, indicating the leakage of PCBs from these sources. Study results show that levels of PCBs in the samples reflect environmental PCB sources. This work was made in the framework of a national survey of POPs coordinated by the Comision Nacional del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA). Key words: PCBs, Soils, Chile, Perumytilus purpuratus |
