Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in environmental samples from Ny-Ålesund and London Island, Svalbard, the Arctic

• PCBs including chiral compounds and PBDEs were investigated in various matrices from Arctic region.
• CB-11 was the major contributor of the total PCBs concentration.
• The concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs are at very low levels in the soil, plants and reindeer dung.
• Bioaccumulation factors of PCBs in six plants were less than 1, whereas those of PBDEs were higher than 1.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in environmental samples collected from Ny-Ålesund and London Island, Svalbard, the Arctic. Total PCB concentrations (∑25PCBs) varied from 0.57 to 2.52 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) in soil, 0.30 to 1.16 ng g−1 dw in plants and 0.56 to 0.98 ng g−1 dw in reindeer dung. The non-Aroclor congener of CB-11 was predominant in most samples compared to other congeners, accounting for 16.0 ± 9.8% to the ∑25PCBs. The ∑13PBDEs concentrations were 1.7–416, 36.7–495 and 28.1–104 pg g−1 dw in soil, plants and reindeer dung, respectively. The signature of enantioselective biotransformation was observed in all samples for chiral CB-95, whereas in parts of samples for other chiral PCBs. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) in six plant species varied within individual contaminant congeners and plant species, with BAFs less than 1 for ∑PCBs and higher than 1 for ∑PBDEs. BAF values decreased with increasing soil concentrations, suggesting that high background levels in soil restricted the accumulation of these contaminants by plants.