Persistent organochlorine compounds in water and soil environments

Abstract
Reviews compound physico-chemical properties and water and soil properties influencing the transport and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorophenols in a water and soil environment. As highly hydrophobic compounds of low water solubility, organochlorine pesticides and PCBs are rapidly and strongly sorbed by most soils and sediments. The sorption of weakly acidic chlorophenols comprises both molecular and ionic forms and depends not only on the soil/sediment organic matter content but also on the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase. Briefly describes the analytical methods for trace analysis of organocholorine pesticides, PCBs and chlorophenols in water and soil/sediment samples. Presents some results of those micropollutants’ analysis in surface, ground and drinking waters, soils, river sediments and wet depositions in Croatia.