ABSTRACT
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are hazardous substances due to their persistence, hydrophobic character, and toxic properties (ATSDR, 2000). Although they have been banned in the industrialized countries for years and in some instances for decades, PCBs are still routinely found throughout the world and continue to cause many ecotoxicological problems (Rezaei et al., 2008). Because of their persistence and hydrophobicity, PCBs accumulate in soils where they are likely to be retained for many years. Consequently, soils are an important reservoir for these compounds (Chekol et al., 2004). PCBs may enter the atmosphere from transformers, incinerators, land›lls, and sludge drying beds (Murphy et al., 1985; Hermanson and Hites, 1989; Hsu et al., 2003). Additionally, these compounds can cause various human health problems, such as neurotoxicity, dermatological, and pulmonary diseases (ATSDR, 2000; Orlinskii et al., 2001). Therefore, the analysis of PCBs in environmental samples should be continued by developing analytical methods.
