PCB distribution in soil and vegetation from different areas in Northern Italy

PCB concentrations in foliage and in soil, as indices of environmental contamination, were measured in different areas of northern Italy. Samples were taken from highly industrialized sites of the plain area and from mountains characterized by very low human impact. In order to describe distribution and transport patterns, the results were evaluated in function of the properties of the different congeners and elaborated by means of Correspondence Factor Analysis (CFA). PCBs seem to be ubiquitous contaminants in Northern Italy but CFA indicates an increase in the concentration of higher molecular weight PCB congeners in areas far from emission sites. Through CFA some differences in the relative composition of soil and foliage samples can be highlighted, suggesting different transport patterns among congeners.