Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Pine Needles

Abstract

This paper presents a review of methods for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in pine needles. These compounds are lipophilic, they accumulate in the biotic and abiotic part of the environment in which they are persistent, and their use is forbidden or restricted due to harmful effects on human and animal health. Pine needles are convenient for monitoring the levels of organochlorine compounds in the air because they accumulate them in wax with which they are covered. However, the presence of many other compounds makes them complex for analysis. Analytical methods for determining organochlorine compounds in pine needles include sample collection, extraction of compounds with a suitable solvent, extract clean-up from unwanted compounds and qualitative and quantitative analysis. PCBs and OCPs are present in pine needles in traces, and every part of the analytical procedure has to be as efficient and selective as possible.