Reduced analytical availability of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) in colored surface water

The results show that the analytical availability of the added PCB was significantly reduced in the presence DNOM, compared to distilled water. The percentage loss in recovery of PCB increased with the content of Cl, in mean, from 3%/mg C for tri-Cl to 9%/mg C for hepta-Cl. The results also suggest that the analytical recovery of PCB was affected by the quality and the nature of the organic matter. For example the longer the DNOMs had been in the aquatic phase, the less efficient they are attached to the PCBs.