Abstract
A report is given on the composition and concentration of Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixtures in surface and deep water of the North Atlantic at 47°N 20°W. High resolution gas chromatographic separation techniques were used to determine individual CBs accurately as well defined compounds. Important qualitative and quantitative differences exist with earlier data. Measured concentrations (between 0.02 and 4.5 pg dm −3 for 18 individual congeners and 1.6–21.0 pg dm −3 for their sum) were one to three orders of magnitude below most data reported before. Concentrations in deep water were lower and less variable than in surface water. Low molecular weight fractions were found to contribute significantly. It is suggested that release from sinking particles is the source of PCBs in deep water. The decline of PCB concentration may reflect partly the decrease of industrial use but probably results mainly from efforts to eliminate sample contamination.
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