Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in natural waters:: Problems and challenges

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are important environmental pollutants. They are poorly water soluble and very hydrophobic, which makes their determination in water difficult. Analysis of surface water is additionally limited by the presence of suspended particulate matter (SPM), at which the analytes from both groups tend to sorb. In many papers the problems encountered in the analysis of PAHs and PCBs in water, and potential sources of errors have been reviewed. Partition of the analytes between the dissolved phase and SPM has been also discussed. It is claimed that none of the methods for the determination of PAHs and PCBs in surface waters containing SPM is fully reliable as repeatability and reproducibility is strongly dependent on the equipment used and the analysis time. Both SPM and humic substances present in water may strongly affect the results.