Validation of simple method for determination of penetration of PCB in concrete

After extensive use of PCB containing polymeric materials in construction the knowledge about toxicity and biomagnification of PCB increased in the early seventies. This lead in Denmark to a ban on the use of PCB in building materials that was effective from 1 January 1977. Now much later an increased focus on indoor health risks caused by previous use of PCB containing building materials has sparked a need for large scale efficient sampling of materials for analysis of PCB content and penetration in materials adjoining the primary sources. Sampling in masonry and concrete is difficult because of strength and inhomogeneity of the materials. Much heat and dust may be generated while sampling from these mineral materials. It is furthermore suspected that the heat generation may mobilize the PCB and make the following analysis imprecise. The purpose of this pape