title: Distribution of volatile organic compounds in Sicilian groundwaters analysed by head space-solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS).
abstract: This work presents the results of an assessment of the existence and concentration of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwaters from 14 hydrological basins in Sicily (25,710km (2)). On the basis of hydrological, hydrogeochemical and geological studies, 324 sampling points were selected. All groundwater sampled were collected twice, from October to December 2004 and from February to May 2005, and were analysed to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the VOCs in the aquifers. The need to analyze a large number of samples in a short space of time so as to obtain quantitative analyses in trace concentration levels spurred us to create a new analytical method, both simple and sensitive, based on HS-SPME/GC/MS. The concentrations of VOCs measured in industrial and intensive agricultural unconfined aquifers were greater than those found in other aquifers. Tetrachloroethylene, chloroform, trichloroethylene and 1,2-dichloropropane were the most frequently detected VOCs. However, they exceeded the guideline values proposed by the EU in only three aquifers located near to industrial and intense agricultural areas.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy. g.pecoraino@pa.ingv.it
authors.forename: Giovannella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pecoraino
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scalici
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avellone
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceraulo
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Favara
authors.forename: Esterina Gagliano
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Provenzano
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scaletta
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012802:Sicily; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical