SOIL SORPTION OF COPLANAR AND NONPLANAR PCBS

Soil sorption of co-planar and non-planar PCBs was studied. Dystric Gleysols sampled in a forested area near Lake Maggiore (Italy) were used. The three most toxic congeners, non-ortho-substituted PCB 77, PCB 126 and PCB 169 were compared with the moderately toxic mono-ortho-substituted PCB 118 and PCB 122 and the lesser toxic di-ortho-substituted PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180. Soil sorption of co-planar PCBs was stronger than of non-planar PCBs with the same degree of chlorination. Soil sorption of PCBs is favoured by high total organic carbon, high total aluminium and iron oxides and increasing fine particles of soil. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.