Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes
In previous work, Alpine glaciers have been identified as a secondary source of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, detailed understanding of the processes organic chemicals undergo in a glacial system was missing. Here, we present results from a chemical fate model describing deposition...
Published in: | Environmental Science & Technology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
ACS Publications
2014
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/1/es501793h.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/ |
id |
ftunivbern:oai:boris.unibe.ch:59267 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivbern:oai:boris.unibe.ch:59267 2023-08-20T04:04:25+02:00 Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes Steinlin, Christine Bogdal, Christian Scheringer, Martin Pavlova, Pavlina A. Schwikowski, Margit Schmid, Peter Hungerbühler, Konrad 2014 application/pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/1/es501793h.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/ eng eng ACS Publications https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/ info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Steinlin, Christine; Bogdal, Christian; Scheringer, Martin; Pavlova, Pavlina A.; Schwikowski, Margit; Schmid, Peter; Hungerbühler, Konrad (2014). Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes. Environmental science & technology, 48(14), pp. 7849-7857. ACS Publications 10.1021/es501793h <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es501793h> 570 Life sciences biology 540 Chemistry info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion PeerReviewed 2014 ftunivbern https://doi.org/10.1021/es501793h 2023-07-31T21:11:50Z In previous work, Alpine glaciers have been identified as a secondary source of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, detailed understanding of the processes organic chemicals undergo in a glacial system was missing. Here, we present results from a chemical fate model describing deposition and incorporation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into an Alpine glacier (Fiescherhorn, Switzerland) and an Arctic glacier (Lomonosovfonna, Norway). To understand PCB fate and dynamics, we investigate the interaction of deposition, sorption to ice and particles in the atmosphere and within the glacier, revolatilization, diffusion and degradation, and discuss the effects of these processes on the fate of individual PCB congeners. The model is able to reproduce measured absolute concentrations in the two glaciers for most PCB congeners. While the model generally predicts concentration profiles peaking in the 1970s, in the measurements, this behavior can only be seen for higher-chlorinated PCB congeners on Fiescherhorn glacier. We suspect seasonal melt processes are disturbing the concentration profiles of the lower-chlorinated PCB congeners. While a lower-chlorinated PCB congener is mainly deposited by dry deposition and almost completely revolatilized after deposition, a higher-chlorinated PCB congener is predominantly transferred to the glacier surface by wet deposition and then is incorporated into the glacier ice. The incorporated amounts of PCBs are higher on the Alpine glacier than on the Arctic glacier due to the higher precipitation rate and aerosol particle concentration on the former. Future studies should include the effects of seasonal melt processes, calculate the quantities of PCBs incorporated into the entire glacier surface, and estimate the quantity of chemicals released from glaciers to determine the importance of glaciers as a secondary source of organic chemicals to remote aquatic ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic glacier BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) Arctic Lomonosovfonna ENVELOPE(17.663,17.663,78.774,78.774) Norway Environmental Science & Technology 48 14 7849 7857 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
BORIS (Bern Open Repository and Information System, University of Bern) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivbern |
language |
English |
topic |
570 Life sciences biology 540 Chemistry |
spellingShingle |
570 Life sciences biology 540 Chemistry Steinlin, Christine Bogdal, Christian Scheringer, Martin Pavlova, Pavlina A. Schwikowski, Margit Schmid, Peter Hungerbühler, Konrad Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
topic_facet |
570 Life sciences biology 540 Chemistry |
description |
In previous work, Alpine glaciers have been identified as a secondary source of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, detailed understanding of the processes organic chemicals undergo in a glacial system was missing. Here, we present results from a chemical fate model describing deposition and incorporation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into an Alpine glacier (Fiescherhorn, Switzerland) and an Arctic glacier (Lomonosovfonna, Norway). To understand PCB fate and dynamics, we investigate the interaction of deposition, sorption to ice and particles in the atmosphere and within the glacier, revolatilization, diffusion and degradation, and discuss the effects of these processes on the fate of individual PCB congeners. The model is able to reproduce measured absolute concentrations in the two glaciers for most PCB congeners. While the model generally predicts concentration profiles peaking in the 1970s, in the measurements, this behavior can only be seen for higher-chlorinated PCB congeners on Fiescherhorn glacier. We suspect seasonal melt processes are disturbing the concentration profiles of the lower-chlorinated PCB congeners. While a lower-chlorinated PCB congener is mainly deposited by dry deposition and almost completely revolatilized after deposition, a higher-chlorinated PCB congener is predominantly transferred to the glacier surface by wet deposition and then is incorporated into the glacier ice. The incorporated amounts of PCBs are higher on the Alpine glacier than on the Arctic glacier due to the higher precipitation rate and aerosol particle concentration on the former. Future studies should include the effects of seasonal melt processes, calculate the quantities of PCBs incorporated into the entire glacier surface, and estimate the quantity of chemicals released from glaciers to determine the importance of glaciers as a secondary source of organic chemicals to remote aquatic ecosystems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Steinlin, Christine Bogdal, Christian Scheringer, Martin Pavlova, Pavlina A. Schwikowski, Margit Schmid, Peter Hungerbühler, Konrad |
author_facet |
Steinlin, Christine Bogdal, Christian Scheringer, Martin Pavlova, Pavlina A. Schwikowski, Margit Schmid, Peter Hungerbühler, Konrad |
author_sort |
Steinlin, Christine |
title |
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
title_short |
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
title_full |
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
title_fullStr |
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes |
title_sort |
polychlorinated biphenyls in glaciers. 2. model results of deposition and incorporation processes |
publisher |
ACS Publications |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/1/es501793h.pdf https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(17.663,17.663,78.774,78.774) |
geographic |
Arctic Lomonosovfonna Norway |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Lomonosovfonna Norway |
genre |
Arctic glacier |
genre_facet |
Arctic glacier |
op_source |
Steinlin, Christine; Bogdal, Christian; Scheringer, Martin; Pavlova, Pavlina A.; Schwikowski, Margit; Schmid, Peter; Hungerbühler, Konrad (2014). Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Glaciers. 2. Model Results of Deposition and Incorporation Processes. Environmental science & technology, 48(14), pp. 7849-7857. ACS Publications 10.1021/es501793h <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es501793h> |
op_relation |
https://boris.unibe.ch/59267/ |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1021/es501793h |
container_title |
Environmental Science & Technology |
container_volume |
48 |
container_issue |
14 |
container_start_page |
7849 |
op_container_end_page |
7857 |
_version_ |
1774714791472922624 |