Topsoil and sediment samples from the Italian general environment were assayed for PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. PCB levels appear to range between 6.2 X 10(2) and 1.6 X 10(4) ng/kg in open areas and between 1.2 X 10(2) and 6.8 X 10(2) ng/kg in cave samples. PCDD plus PCDF levels, as TCDD equivalents (TE units), are between 1.0 X 10(-1) and 4.3 ngTE/kg in open areas, and between 5.7 X 10(-2) and 1.2 X 10(-1) ngTE/kg in cave samples. The less chlorinated PCB homologs seem to reach higher relative levels in cave sediments than in the topsoil of open areas, this probably due to a lower dissipation rate. PCDD plus PCDF levels (TE units) versus cumulative PCB levels provide highly significant linear regression in logarithmic coordinates.