Calibration and Field Validation of SPME Fibres as Passive Air Samplers for Chlorinated Semivolatile Organic Compounds

Chlorinated semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), for example the pesticides hexachlorobenzene, lindane (and its isomers) or DDT (and its metabolites) which have been used worldwide very extensively in the past, now occur as ubiquitous air pollutants. They are relatively stable in the atmosphere and can undergo medium to long range transport. In contrast to many other pesticides, the abovementioned chlorinated substances have high bioaccumulation potential and can cause direct or indirect effects on non-target plants, terrestrial and aquatic organisms and even on local human populations [Unsworth et al., 1999]. Because prediction of transport and fate of these substances (and thus of their actual or time–integrated atmospheric concentrations) is not exact enough, an extensive monitoring of persistent chlorinated SVOCs is necessary.