Organochlorine Pesticides in Urban Air: Concentrations, Sources, Seasonal Trends and Correlation with Meteorological Parameters

Abstract

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in both the gas and particulate phases of urban air samples were determined. The samples were collected between August 2006 and May 2007 at four different locations in Konya, Turkey. OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatography with micro electron capture detection (GC/μ‐ECD). The average total (gas + particulate) concentrations of OCPs were determined to be between 809 and 6309 pg/m3. The highest OCP levels were found in autumn. Total hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, sum of α, β, γ, δ‐HCH), total DDT's (sum of p,pi‐DDT, p,pi‐DDD and p,pi‐DDE) and endosulfan compounds (sum of endosulfan I, endosulfan II and endosulfan sulfate) were about 43, 25 and 17% of total OCPs, respectively. OCPs were predominantly detected in the particulate phase. Correlations were observed between OCP concentration and temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and Total Suspended Particulate, PM10, but the variation between meteorological parameters with OCP concentrations could not be explained completely. Despite banned/restricted use in Turkey, all the OCPs were found in urban air. p,pi‐DDT/p,pi‐DDE ratios were above 11 which is an indication of current use of DDT compounds. Therefore, it could be suggested that Konya is an actively contributing region to organochlorine pesticides pollutants in Turkey.

The Annual Characteristics of Rainwater HCHO in Guiyang City, Southwest of China

“…4, the HCHO (aq) levels were highest in the rainwater of air-mass originated from NE/N/NW and lowest in the rainwater of air-mass originated from the E/SE. Because most of the industrial or urban regions locate in the north or northeast of Guiyang city, a lot of incomplete organic compounds released by the industrial manufactory and anthropogenic activities came from this side and may be the precursor of HCHO (aq) [27]. This result is in good agreement with correlation analysis which indicated an important anthropogenic input for rainwater HCHO (aq) levels in Guiyang city.…”

Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in atmospheric air of Tamilnadu, southern India

“…The volatilization of soil residues may also a reason for OCPs diagnosis in summer. In particular, occurrence of aldrin and dieldrin may be due to its usage as soil insecticides in corn, potato, and other crops and also as termite killer in wooden structures (Ozcan and Aydin 2009). …”

Does Aqueous‐Phase Oxidation of HCHO Opens a Pathway to Formic Acids in Atmosphere?

“…Although a net production of HCOOH (aq) from oxidation of HCHO (aq) is expected in field condition according to the model calculation, our experimental ratios of [HCOOH] t / [HCHO]aq were almost independent of pH values of rainwater which was contradict with theoretical calculations. Consequently, we saw no significantly contribution of HCOOH (aq) from aqueous-phase oxidation of HCHO (aq) from our experimental data, but we noted that this conclusion may be tentative because the ratio of [HCOOH] t / [HCHO]aq would be diverged from equilibrium value as a result of aqueous-phase chemical or physical processes [14][15][16]. Further work is needed to better characterize the relationship between HCOOH (aq) and HCHO (aq) in aqueous phase, their formation chemistry, and relevant controlling factor through simultaneously determination of HCOOH (aq) and HCHO (aq) in aqueous phase and gas phase.…”