A COMPARISON OF PESTICIDE AND PCB LEVELS BETWEEN SOIL AND FRUIT/VEGETABLE SAMPLES FROM MYZEQEJA AREA, ALBANIA

Abstract: In this paper are presented concentrations of organochlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in soil, fruit and vegetable samples from Myzeqeja area. Previous aplication of pesticides for agricultural purposes or/and atmospheric deposition of PCBs and other volatile/semivolatile compounds, irrigation waters, agromechanics and different acidents are the main ways of organic pollutants presence in soil samples. Myzeqeja field is the main agricultural area in Albania. Soil and plant (fruit/vegetable) samples (in the same area) were selected in 15 different stations of Myzeqeja field. Samples were taken in May 2020. Ultrasonic extraction used for extracting organochlorinated pesticides, their residues and PCBs from soil and fruit/vegetable samples. Clean-up procedure was performed using firstly silicagel with sulfuric acid and a second clean-up procedure in an “open” florisil column. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was realized in Varian 450 gas chromatograph equipped with ECD detector. For simultaneous separation of organochlorinated pesticides and PCB markers was used Rtx-5 capillary column (30m x 0.32mm x 0.25μm). In all studied samples were found organochlorinated pollutants. These facts reflect the presence of these pollutants because their previous use, bioaccumulation processes, slope, soil geology, fruit/vegetable type, irrigation water used, atmospheric deposition, etc. The main origin of organochlorine pesticides could be as result of their previous uses for agricultural purposes because the higher concentrations for their metabolites. Profile PCB marker were as following: PCB 28 > PCB 138 > PCB 153. This fact confirms atmospheric origin of these compounds in Myzeqeja area.