AMBIENT AIR DIOXIN MEASUREMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

Preliminary results of a survey programme for airborne PCDD/F demonstrate that present sampling and analysis techniques allow the determination of low fg/m3 of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in ambient air. Sampling recoveries of PCDD/Fs added to the filter before sampling gave recoveries of 75+/-10% on average, and was found the preferred method for reliable quantification under field conditions. Particulate bound PCDD/F levels in air in a municipal waste incinerator deposition area ranged between 15+/-5 and 125+/-25 fg TCDD toxicity equivalentS/M3 (International TEQ), the high values found in downstream air masses. The local background level was estimated at a value of 10-15 fg TEQ/m3. Congener profiles were very similar in all wind directions and compared well with that found in MSW emissions.