PCB in air

Sampling & analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in air.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls or PCB is a man made chemical with a number of attractive physical and chemical properties. However, the very same properties attractive for industrial purposes makes PCB a Persistent Organic Pollutant. There are 209 PCB congeners in total.

Analytical method & sampling procedure

Sampling and analysis of PCB can be performed in several different ways. For example, each of the methods below have their own media type/size, sampling equipment and flow requirements:

• NIOSH 5503 (industrial hygiene low volume method)
• TO-10A (mid volume ambient method)
• TO-04A (high volume ambient method)

Analysis of PCB can also be performed by multiple methods:

• GC/ECD – (generally Arochlor pattern technique)
• GC/LRMS SIM (either Arochlor pattern or congener specific techniques)
• GC/HRMS (Method 1668C: 209 congener method)

Parameters reported

• Aroclor 1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260, 1262, 1268
• Market PCB's: PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153, PCB 180
• Dioxin-like) PCB's: PCB 77, PCB 105, PCB 156, PCB 126, PCB 114, PCB 157, PCB 169, PCB 118, PCB 167, PCB 81, PCB 123, PCB 189.
• All 209 PCB congeners.