Levels of PCDD/Fs in soil samples in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in 24 soil samples collected near a municipal solid waste incinerator (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain). Soil samples were obtained at various sites within 1.5 km from the stack. Total PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 0.225 to 5.80 ng TEQ/kg dry matter (d.m.) with a median value of 0.799 ng TEQ/kg and a mean value of 1.080 ng TEQ/kg. No remarkable PCDD/F contamination was found. The results were consistent and even lower than those reported in other international studies. Principal Component Analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to compare these soil samples with a set of 10 additional samples collected outside the influence of the plant. Principal Component and hierarchical cluster analyses of soils in the vicinity of the incinerator provide patterns of PCDD/Fs quite similar from those obtained in soils collected far from the influence of that facility.