Historical profile of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in an alpine glacier

• Main Authors: VILLA, SARA, MAGGI, VALTER, Negrelli, C, FINIZIO, ANTONIO, BOLZACCHINI, EZIO, VIGHI, MARCO
• Other Authors: Villa, S, Maggi, V, Finizio, A, Bolzacchini, E, Vighi, M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: INST LEBENSMITTELTECHNOLOGIE ANALYTISCHE CHEMIE 2001
• Subjects: PCB; Log Koa; ice core; historical trend; high mountain; long range transport
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10281/418

An ice-core, drilled on Lys Glacier (Italian Alps), was analysed to determine PCB concentration. Contamination was characterised by low chlorinated congeners (di-, tri- and sometimes tetra- chlorobiphenyls) for all the investigated periods. The historical trend indicates the maximum concentration occurring in the early 1980's. These results are highly correlated to PCB technical mixture burden and physical-chemical properties. The role of temperature on PCB environmental fate is highlighted. High mountains can be considered to be a cold condenser.