Passive air sampling of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides at the Korean Arctic and Antarctic research stations: Implications for long-range transport and local pollution

• Published in: Environmental Science & Technology
• Main Authors: Choi, SD, Baek, SY, Chang, YS, Wania, F, Ikonomou, MG, Yoon, YJ, Park, BK, Hong, S
• Other Authors: 환경공학부, 10086108
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AMER CHEMICAL SOC 2008
• Subjects: PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS; POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS; HISTORICAL EMISSION INVENTORY; AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS PAHS; NORTH-AMERICAN ATMOSPHERE; GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION MODEL; 209 PCB CONGENERS; AMBIENT AIR; SAMPLERS; ISLAND; GLOBAL FRACTIONATION; ATMOSPHERE; TRENDS; Arctic; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; King George Island; Norway; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://oasis.postech.ac.kr/handle/2014.oak/22484; https://doi.org/10.1021/ES801004P

To assess levels and patterns of polychlorinated bipheryls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in polar regions, XAD-resin based passive air samplers were deployed for one year at the Korean polar research stations at Ny-Alesund, Norway (2005-2006) and King George Island, Antarctica (2004-2005). Backward trajectories suggest that these stations are affected by long-range transport from source regions in Northern Europe and Russia and the southern tip of South America, respectively. Relatively high levels of PCB-11, averaging 60 pg.m(-3), were observed in Antarctica, suggesting an unusual source of PCB-11 to the Southern Hemisphere. Reflecting the hemispheric distribution of global PCB emissions, the average level of Sigma 205PCB (excluding three mono-CBs and PCB-11) was five times higher in the Arctic (95 pg.m(-3)) than in the Antarctic (19 pg.m(-3)). Levels of Sigma 9PCB at Ny-Alesund were similar to those reported for other Arctic sites,while levels at King George Island were lower than at other sites on the Antarctic Peninsula but 1 order of magnitude higher than background levels measured at a more remote Antarctic site. Light homologues were predominant in all samples (except for one Arctic sample), consistent with the hypothesis of global fractionation and predictions of long-range transport potential. Dominance of heavy PCBs on the roof of the main building at Ny-Alesund and a concentration gradient with distance from the main building at King George Island strongly indicated the influence of local sources. OCP levels were also influenced by long-range transport but not by local sources. This study highlights the feasibility of using passive air sampling to assess both long-range transport and local pollution in remote regions. X 1 1 94 91 scie scopus