Results from the Swedish National Screening Programme 2008. Screening of unintentionally produced organic contaminants

This report considers the screening of unintentionally produced substances. Substance groups included in the screening program were oxygenated and nitrated forms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen containing heterocyclic compounds. Polybrominated dibenzodioxins (PBDD) and furans (PBDF), polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDT) and dibenzotianthrenes (PCDTA) were also included in the study. PAHs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were included as reference substances. The results of the screening showed that oxidized and nitrated forms of PAHs as well as heterocyclic analogues of PAHs were frequently found in background and urban areas and in most of the environmental matrices included in the study. PCDTs were found in most abiotic samples while PCDTA generally was below the limit-of-detection. The concentrations of PBDDs were generally below the limit-of-detection but were found in deposition, urban sediment, background sediment, and fish from Kvädöfjärden. The PBDF concentrations in air varied widely in time and space. OBDF occurred in similar concentrations as PCBs in air, deposition, sediment and soil.