Polychlorinated biphenyls in ambient air of NW Greece and in particulate emissions

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bound to total suspended particles (TSP) were determined in the area of Eordea basin, NW Greece, where intensive coal burning for electricity production takes place. The concentrations of PCBs exhibited high variability although within the range reported for urban industrialized areas. The presence of PCBs in fly ash generated from coal burning as well as in particulate emissions from vehicles, domestic heating, burning of refuses and biomass was also examined. The particles emitted from vehicles and central heating exhibited the higher content of PCBs, whereas fly ash the lower. The pattern of PCBs in TSP as well as in particulate emissions was discussed.