SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF WATER AND SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER OF THE RIVER ELBE FOR POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS (PCDDS) AND DIBENZOFURANS (PCDFS)

A sampling method for the determination of the particle-bound and dissolved PCDDs/Fs in the river Elbe is described. The suspended particulate matter (SPM) sample was taken by means of a centrifuge. For the water phase a sampling system with three modules was developed (FILAD I). The first two modules serve as filters, the third for solid/liquid-extraction. Samples were analysed by HRGC/HRMS for PCDDs/Fs. The concentrations of the dissolved PCDDs/Fs were in the fg/L range. Detection limit for dissolved PCDDs/Fs was 0,7 - 0,9 fg/L. Particulate organic carbon/water partition coefficients (Koc) were calculated. The results show that the analysis of particle-bound PCDDs/Fs alone would be sufficient to determine their concentration in the river Elbe. The differences in PCDD/F concentrations and in isomeric patterns of SPM between two sampling points, one upstream and the other downstream of the harbour of Hamburg, are discussed.