Monitoring of Polychlorinated biphenyls in Surface Water Using QuEChERS Extraction Method with Gas Chromatography-micro Electron Capture Detector

Surface water samples were collected to measure polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at two sites: Shubra-Khait and Kafer-El-Zayet districts. Gas chromatography-micro-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was used to evaluate water samples after they were extracted using the QuEChERS method. Eleven PCB congeners were identified, and the findings demonstrated that surface water was contaminated with low concentrations of PCBs. The lowest, highest and the average of PCB concentrations at Kafer-El-Zayet, were 0.15, 5.21, and 1.124 μg L-1, and at Shubra-Khait, they were 0.28, 3.58, and 0.929 μg L-1. Even though it was only found in trace amounts, its cumulative nature allowed it to find its way into subterranean water, which is thought to be one of the main sources of environmental contamination. This could have an adverse effect on both human and environmental health.