Analysis of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (CHC) in Environmental Samples

Abstract

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (abbreviated CHC* in this standard operation procedure) play an important role as environmental contaminants. Predominantly in the past they have been intensively used worldwide as effective insecticides (DDT, HCH and related compounds) or as transformer oils (PCBs). However, as a consequence of the hazardous side-effects observed mainly in animals, birds, and primates the application of those pesticides was strictly banned in the early seventies and the production of PCBs was drastically reduced. Nevertheless, due to the low degradability of CHCs and their high accumulation-factors in fatty tissues they are still distributed all over the world; hence they are most suitable as stable indicators of the status and the development of the environment, particularly in the context of an Environmental Specimen Bank.