Introduction

Information on the occurrence of pollutants in the environment can be obtained from different monitoring stations, which are designated for this purpose. The measurements are mostly based on a temporal basis (e.g. daily average concentration of SO₂ in air). These long-term measurements are used for future estimations of concentration trends, allowing for evaluation of overall levels of environmental pollution.

Unfortunately, such information does not allow assessing spatial distribution of pollutants on a large scale. For this purpose we need spatially resolved distribution models based on a sufficient number of measurements.

Results of such models are concentration maps in the sampling area. The concentration maps can be used for calculation of overall pools of pollutants in the environment and for risk analysis as well. These maps can be also used as input data for more sophisticated deterministic distribution models.

The aim of this study was to predict spatial distribution of concentrations of pesticides (DDT and its metabolites, HCB) in the territory of the Czech Republic. DDT and HCB belong to the group of so called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Content of the pollutants in the environment has some specifics concerning its high spatial heterogeneity. Their environmental concentrations vary in a large scale according to climatic factors, soil properties and type of vegetation. It is necessary to gather sufficient number of samples, which reflect overall conditions and gradient of territory characteristics that may affect POPs occurrence.