Forensic Investigations in Complex Pollution Cases Involving PCBs, Dioxins and Furans: Potential Pitfalls and Tips

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) are frequently detected in grass, soil and farm animals near incineration plants, electric transformers recycling facilities, or after major fires during environmental forensic investigations. The sale of farm animals for food above established PCBs and PCDD/F limits is forbidden, and therefore are slaughtered, or removed from contaminated areas to graze on uncontaminated food, in an attempt to detoxify. If regulated levels are exceeded in one sample, the impacts are rarely limited to one area, or within the sampling period. It is therefore important to establish the extent of the contamination, distinguish the potential source(s) and identify the duration of the contamination event. This manuscript examine potential pitfalls in the analysis of (PCBs), dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) in terms of their regulated levels, sampling challenges, the analysis of samples and statistical interpretation of the test data.