Concentration measurements of PCDD/F in air and spruce needles in the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest (Sumava): First results

The aim of this project was to assess the concentration ranges of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in air by means of active and passive sampling devices located in remote areas along the southern part of the German–Czech border. During the measuring program we also used spruce needles of different ages as biomonitors. The first results, which are restricted to PCDD/F measurements, indicate that the concentrations in both air and needles measured at four sites in the Bavarian Forest and Sumava crest region are lower than in many other regions of Bavaria and lower than during former measuring campaigns in adjacent regions of Austria and Bohemia. There is no apparent reason for the higher contamination by dioxins and furans in South Bohemia ecosystems, which are far from emission centers in central and northern Czech Republic. Other POPs will be investigated in the future.