Measurement of Atmospheric PCDD/Fs Concentrations Using Polyurethane Foam Disk Passive Air Samplers

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the use of polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers (PUF PAS) for better measurement of atmospheric polychlorinared dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) concentrations compared to PUF PAS combined with high volume air samplers (HVS).Methods: Air samples were collected by a low volume air sampler (LVS) and PUF PAS. A total of two pairs were continuously collected for six months, but the PUF was replaced every two months.Results: A good correlation was shown (R 2 =0.8595, p<0.0001) between atmospheric PCDD/Fs concentration measured by the LVS and PUF PAS. The average air sampling rate (1.5 m 3 /day-sampler) of all PCDD/Fs congeners showed a middle of the means which were measured using a HVS by other researchers in different cities. In addition, the air sampling rates of the LVS for each congener made less difference than did those of the HVS. Conclusion:It was found that measurements using the LVS were less influenced by atmospheric peak PCDD/ Fs concentrations. However, trace POPs such as PCDD/Fs may involve relatively large analytical errors in measurement, and as a result the air sampling rate of the respective PCDD/Fs isomer is also likely to involve errors. The method of using a regression straight line between the concentrations obtained from the LVS and those from the PUF PAS was judged higher than the method using the air sampling rate, since the former compensated for the experimental errors in the process of evaluation of atmospheric PCDD/F concentrations using the PUF PAS.