Persistent organic pollutants in agricultural soils of central Germany

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (HCHs, DDX, PCBs and HCB) were measured in topsoils from 11 agricultural fields in the lee of large disused industrial plants in the Leipzig-Halle region at varying distances from emitters. The investigations clearly indicate the deposition of anthropogenic pollutant inputs, not only in the past, but also today. The pollution potential was assessed on the basis of current guide values and limits, as well as in relation to values found in agricultural soils elsewhere in Germany, in Europe and in the USA. The reference values were mainly exceeded for DDX and gamma-HCH (lindane). The PCB pattern was determined and the degradation ratios between the parent substances and their metabolites (DDX and HCH isomers) were calculated in order to distinguish between the previous and current pollutant input of pesticides by means of principal component analysis.