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Polychlorinated Biphenyls Analysis in Environmental Samples
Summary
This review covers analytical methods for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) across environmental matrices—air, water, sediment, soil, and biological samples—including microplastics, which act as vectors concentrating PCBs and other persistent organic pollutants. Because microplastics adsorb and transport PCBs through ecosystems and into organisms, understanding PCB analytical protocols is essential to characterizing the full chemical hazard posed by microplastic contamination.
Abstract Principles and current advances of the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in environmental samples are discussed. The PCB analytical procedures are described with several steps, including sample collection, sample preparation, quantification analysis, data processing, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols. The sampling techniques and sample preparation methods (i.e. pretreatment, extraction, purification, and concentration) are reviewed for various environmental matrices, such as air, water, sediment, soil, dust, and biological samples. Additionally, microplastic samples are included because these materials act as vectors of organic micropollutants, including PCBs. PCB mixtures in the sample extracts are mainly analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with an electron capture detector (ECD) or a mass spectrometer (MS). Besides, other instrumental methods and biochemical assays have been applied to assess PCBs and their toxicological potency in environmental samples. A brief overview of the environmental analysis of PCB metabolites and related compounds, notably hydroxylated PCBs (OH‐PCBs) and mixed halogenated biphenyls (PXBs), is provided. The application of chemometrics and artificial intelligence in PCB analysis and pollution assessment is mentioned. The environmental analysis of PCBs is a prerequisite and crucial task in assessing, managing, and remediating these persistent organic pollutants.