Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in seawater of the Southern Baltic Sea Original Research Article

Due to the low concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seawater, a special method of analysis is needed. The aim of this work was to prepare the detailed procedure for the determination of POPs in seawater and establish the level of pollution by selected POPs (seven PCBs, DDT and its metabolites, HCH isomers, HCB) of the surface and near bottom water from the Baltic Sea. The levels of toxic substances were analysed using capillary gas chromatography (GC). The average values of SHCH, HCB, SDDT and Σ7PCBs in the surface water were 0.35 (±0.13) ng dm−3, 0.06 (±0.02) ng dm−3, 0.14 (±0.05) ng dm−3 and 0.98 (±0.44) ng dm−3, respectively. The average concentrations of ΣHCH, HCB, ΣDDT and Σ7PCBs analysed near bottom water were 0.44 (±0.16) ng dm−3, 0.09 (±0.02) ng dm−3, 0.17 (±0.08) ng dm−3 and 0.95 (±0.57) ng dm−3.