[Integration pollution index (IPI) method for evaluation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution in soil]

An integration pollutant index (IPI) evaluation method with proportional addition of toxicity pollution sub-index (TPI), persistence pollution sub-index (PPI), and bio-accumulation pollution sub-indexes (BPI) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution in soil was set up for the first time by referring to the conception of IPI and introducing the standard value series of total PCBs employed by national guideline and standards office, Canada. The relevant expressions for pollution indexes were defined; three transformation coefficients for PCBs toxicity (T(i)), persistence (P(i), and bio-accumulation (B(i) pollution were apportioned, too. Then, by the application of the evaluation method, the IPIs for PCBs pollution evaluations in 22 soil sample stations in the Yellow River Delta and a background sample were accomplished successfully, the quantification results were in range of 1.1-531.7, the qualification result was that the Yellow River Delta was slightly polluted by PCBs. This integrated evaluation model considered the characteristic differences between PCBs congeners and was more scientifical and comprehensive than current method, and should be employed in evaluations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).