Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Analysis of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in atmospheric deposition samples from the Flemish measurement network:
K Croes1, T Vandermarken, K Van Langenhove
1Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. kim.croes@vub.ac.be
Abstract:
Since the CALUX (Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression) bioassay is a fast, sensitive and inexpensive tool for the analysis of a high number of samples, the use of this technique in routine analysis of atmospheric deposition samples may be a valuable alternative for GC-HRMS. In this study, a validated CALUX method was used for the analysis of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in more than 90 atmospheric deposition samples for different locations in Flanders. The samples were taken in residential and agricultural areas, where a threshold limit of 21pgWHO-TEQm(-2)d(-1) for the sum of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs was set, and in industrial zones and natural reserves, where no official threshold limit is available. The results from the Flemish measurement program showed correlation between CALUX and GC-HRMS for all the samples, originating from the different areas (R(2) of 0.81, 0.53 and 0.64 for dl-PCBs, PCDD/Fs and sum of both fractions, respectively). Median CALUX/GC-HRMS ratios of 2.0, 0.9 and 1.3 were reported for the PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and the sum of both fractions, respectively. The results show that the CALUX bioassay is a valuable alternative tool for the classic GC-HRMS analysis of atmospheric deposition samples in the Flemish measurement network.
