Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Pine Needles in Europe : Fingerprint for the Past and Recent Use

Pine needles have been demonstrated as a useful monitoring matrix for the evaluation of the tropospheric contamination levels of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as DDTs, HCHs, and HCB. Global chlorinated hydrocarbon distribution has been investigated with major attention to remote areas, while the factors affecting the distribution trends in regions of major use are less known. Six countries in Europe were analyzed by the transect sampling mode. Homogeneous contamination intensities were present within each transect, and correspondence factor analysis was used for the characterization of the typical distribution patterns. The relative composition of the contaminants is revealed as characteristic for each area (''fingerprint''), and the history of the use and the socioeconomic conditions appear as the most important factor determining the distribution patterns