Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Arctic Air. 1. Temporal and Spatial Trends:  1992−1994

Abstract

In 1992, a long term program was established to measure the airborne concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Arctic. To maximize spatial variation over a wide geographical area, three Arctic locations were selected; two sites in Canada, Alert on Ellesmere Island and Tagish in the western Yukon, and one in Russia at Dunai Island in eastern Siberia. PCB data is presented here for the years 1992-1994. Mean ∑PCB concentrations for 1993, the year when all three sites were running simultaneously, were 27.4, 17.0, and 34.0 pg/m 3 at the Alert, Tagish, and Dunai sites, respectively. With the exception of the Tagish site in 1993, where ∑PCB concentrations were found to be weakly correlated with mean monthly temperatures, no correlation with temperature was observed. However, changes in the homolog group profile with temperature were apparent. On an annual basis, the trichlorinated congeners made the largest single contribution to the atmospheric concentrations of ∑PCB, however, this contribution declined with the onset of warmer months. This temperature-dependent homolog pattern was most clearly evident at Dunai, where the contribution of the pentachlorinated congeners matched or exceeded that of the trichlorinated congeners during May, June, and July of 1993. It was also evident at Alert and Tagish, but not to the same degree. Spatial and year-to-year differences at these Arctic sites were attributed to both the site's proximity to source areas (where different PCB mixtures and quantities have been used) and to the influence of air mass movement from these source regions.

POPs in a major conurbation in Turkey: ambient air concentrations, seasonal variation, inhalation and dermal exposure, and associated carcinogenic risks

“…1). Tri-CBs dominated the homolog pattern, in agreement with those reported in the literature (Stern et al 1997;Choi et al 2008). Fractions of tri-, tetra-, penta, hexa-, hepta-, and octa-CBs in ∑ 32 PCBs were 52.6, 23.2, 14.2, 8.1, 1.7, and 0.2 %, respectively.…”

“…In Europe (EU-28), PAH levels have been declining from 1990 until ≈2002 but were leveling off, even slightly increasing thereafter (EEA 2014). PCB levels in air are believed to slowly fall in all regions (except in the Arctic; Lammel and Stemmler 2012), which is confirmed for central Europe for 1997(Dvorská et al 2009), but it could be regionally overcompensated by climate variability (mobilization from ground compartments triggered by higher temperatures; Lamon et al 2009). The decision about the prohibition of PCB usage in Turkey was published in the official gazette in 1993, then entered into force in 1996 (RCHC 1993), but the long-term PCB trend in Turkey is not confirmed.…”

Circumpolar Study of Perfluoroalkyl Contaminants in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

“…Tomy et al (32) have shown that PFOS biomagnifies in the arctic marine food chain. As atmospheric circulation and ocean currents are currently thought to be responsible for the distribution of PCBs (24,25,33), this supports an atmospheric and oceanic distribution model for PFAs and/or their precursors. …”

Redistribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls from a Local Point Source: Terrestrial Soil, Freshwater Sediment, and Vascular Plants as Indicators of the Halo Effect

“…The relative significance of local versus more distant sources of contamination in the Arctic has been the source of some debate in the literature Norstrom and Muir, 1994;Stern et al, 1997;Braune et al, 1999). While long-range transport of organic contaminants is well known and understood, local source redistribution is less well documented and accepted.…”