Statistical analysis of long-term monitoring data for persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere at 20 monitoring stations broadly indicates declining concentrations (original) (raw)
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Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 2006
Data are presented for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDEs) and selected organochlorine compounds (OCs) in passive air samplers (PAS) along a rural/remote latitudinal transect from southern UK to northern Norway during 2002-2004. This study is part of an ongoing campaign, using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as PAS over two year intervals since 1994. Data for PCBs, selected OCs and PBDEs are compared with that from previous campaigns. Absolute sequestered amounts of selected PCB congeners have decreased in a first order fashion between 1994-2004, with an average atmospheric clearance rate of 4.1 AE 0.6 years and continue to fractionate with latitude. HCB has also declined between 1998-2004, with a clearance rate of 6 AE 2.4 years. Data on DDT and its breakdown products indicate little fresh release in Europe. Comparison of PBDEs in 2000-02 and 2002-04 indicates site differences, generally with increases at UK sites and decreases in Norway. BDE-28, 47 and 49 decreased with increasing latitude (p o 0.04), while the other congeners did not show any significant latitudinal dependence. Transect data are presented for PAHs the first time. Three-and 4-ringed compounds dominated the mixture present in the SPMD. The PAH composition of the SPMDs at site 3 was compared to the average composition taken by active sampling at the same site. SPMD performance for sampling PAHs leaves many uncertainties, but they can be successfully used to semiquantitatively detect PAHs in the atmosphere. Fluorene and phenanthrene increased with latitude (p 4 0.05), while 1-methylphenanthere, fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and indeno[123-cd]pyrene decreased. Results are discussed in terms of sources, long-range atmospheric transport, global fractionation and clearance processes.
Environmental Science & Technology, 2009
Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in air are reported from the first full year of the Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling (GAPS) Network. Passive air samplers composed of polyurethane foam disks (PUF-disk samplers) were deployed over four consecutive three-month periods in 2005 to measure seasonal concentrations of POPs at a variety of site types on a global scale, with an emphasis on background/ remote locations. Samples for the last three quarters are reported here for the first time. Annual geometric mean (GM) concentrations in air (pg · m -3 ) were highest for endosulfan, a currently used pesticide (GM ) 82), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (GM ) 26). Other chemicals regularly detected included R-and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), chlordanes, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, p,p'-DDE and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). With the exception of lower concentrations during the first quarter, no seasonal patterns were observed on a global basis. In contrast, some distinct seasonal patterns were observed on a site-specific basis. For instance, endosulfans exhibited strong seasonality with highest concentrations during the summer periods, especially at or near agricultural sites. The latitudinal distribution of target chemicals reflected the estimated spatial variability of global emissions, with highest concentrations observed in the midlatitudes of the northern hemisphere. In the case of PCBs, the GAPS data reflected and were well correlated with global emission estimates, with highest concentrations in developed and industrialized regions. Data provided through the GAPS Network establish global baseline values, and continuation of the time series will contribute to the effectiveness evaluation of global treaties on POPs (e.g., Stockholm Convention). Globally resolved data will also foster the development and validation of global transport models for POPs, and the investigation of seasonal and interannual trends in concentrations of POPs in the global atmosphere.
Step changes in persistent organic pollutants over the Arctic and their implications
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
While some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been declining globally due to their worldwide ban since the 1980s, the declining trends of many of these toxic chemicals become less significant and in some cases their ambient air concentrations, e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), showed observable increase during the 2000s, disagreeing with their declining global emissions and environmental degradation. As part of the efforts to assess the influences of environmental factors on the long-term trend of POPs in the Arctic, step change points in the time series of ambient POP atmospheric concentrations collected from four arctic monitoring sites were examined using various statistical techniques. Results showed that the step change points of these POP data varied in different years and at different sites. Most step change points were found in 2001–2002 and 2007–2008. In particular, the step change points of many PCBs for 2007–2008 were coincident with the lowest arctic sea ice...
Atmospheric Environment, 2009
We use air mass back trajectory analysis of persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels monitored at a regional background site, Košetice, Czech Republic, as a tool to study the effectiveness of emission reduction measures taken in the last decade in the region. The representativity of the chosen trajectory starting height for air sampling near ground was ensured by excluding trajectories starting at time of inversions lower than their starting height. As the relevant pollutant sources are exclusively located in the atmospheric boundary layer, trajectory segments above this layer were also excluded from the analysis. We used a linear time weight to account for the influence of dispersion and deposition on trace components abundances and to quantify the ground source loading, a continuous measure for the influence of surface emissions. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and two time periods, the years 1997-1999 and 2004-2006, were studied. The pollutant levels transported to Košetice decreased for all substances except HCB. Except for lindane seasonal emissions were insignificant. Increasing emissions of HCB were at least partly linked to the 2002 floods in the Danube basin. Major emissions of 1997-1999 which decreased significantly were in France (lindane), western Poland, Hungary and northern ex-Yugoslavia (technical HCH), and the Czech Republic (DDT). Emissions remaining in 2004-2006 include HCB and DDT in the northern Czech Republic, HCB and PCBs in Germany. Besides changes in emission strength meteorological factors influence the level of transported pollutant concentrations. The prevailing air flow pattern limits the geographic coverage of this analysis to central Europe and parts of western Europe. However, no POP monitoring stations exist in areas suitable for a possible extension of the study area.
Atmospheric Pollution Research, 2012
Long-term air monitoring programs are today recognized as a powerful tool for global studies of atmospheric longrange transport processes. Based on the combined efforts from multi-national atmospheric monitoring programs, principles and pathways of long-range contaminant transport into the pristine Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctic) have been revealed. The defining factors and mechanisms of the principal atmospheric transport into the Polar Regions for a wide array of contaminants ranging from inorganic and organic contaminants, nutrients to aerosols and particulate matter, have been established and verified based on long-term monitoring data. At present, empirically derived monitoring data is the only way to evaluate the accuracy of the projections and results obtained from modern modeling tools that aim to describe future contamination scenarios in various regions of the world. Although the fundamental importance of continuous atmospheric monitoring for the evaluation of global long-range transport and distribution processes of anthropogenic contaminants is recognized, three major challenges for global monitoring of contaminants remain: (1) A more thorough co-ordination and co-operation between all international monitoring programs with focus in global contaminant transport and fate must be achieved. (2) Strategies for rapid and effective adaptation of programs following the identification of new priority contaminants. (3) Application of appropriate sampling and analytical protocols as well as quality control and quality assurance measures; that must be developed and adopted by all relevant monitoring programs in order to allow effective comparison of measurement results and information between the respective monitoring initiatives.
Measurements of persistent organic pollutants in Estonian ambient air (1990–2013)
Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, 2015
Central and Eastern Europe is a region that is expected to need more data on the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ambient air in the future. Passive air sampling is a cheap screening method for comparison of contamination on various sites or for verification of information obtained by active samplers. Passive air samplers are sensitive enough to mirror even small-scale differences, which makes them capable of monitoring spatial, seasonal, and temporal variations. Different passive air samplers were employed between 1990 and 2013 from time to time in six Estonian air monitoring stations. The concentrations of PCB and its congeners, HCB, PeCB, HCH, and DDT (the same for PBDE, PCN, PCDD/F) in Estonian ambient air were very low, but they allow tracking transboundary air pollution. The main aim of this article is analysis of changes in the ambient air pollution in Estonia during a long period of time . Also, selection of Lahemaa background station for monitoring POPs in the European area is addressed.