Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soils near a clinical waste incinerator in Madrid, Spain. Chemometric comparison with other pollution sources and soils

Surface soils samples (0–5 cm) collected in the surroundings of a Clinical Waste Incinerator (CWI) were analysed for Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). PCDDs and PCDFs were found at ppt levels at the 16 points sampled. The analytical data obtained reflect a slight contamination by PCDD/Fs in the area studied, but do not clarify whether the CWI plant is the only PCDD/F source responsible for that contamination. The PCDD/F patterns and profiles from the investigated soils were compared chemometricly with those reported in the available literature, and indicated that the investigated soils have a typical combustion profile and pattern. They were similar to typical emission combustion sources such as traffic, clinical waste incinerators, and combustion of materials containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) such as electrical wires and illegal scrap materials.