Toward a Global Network for Persistent Organic Pollutants in Air:  Results from the GAPS Study

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 40; no. 16; pp. 4867 - 4873
• Main Authors: Pozo, Karla, Harner, Tom, Wania, Frank, Muir, Derek C. G, Jones, Kevin C, Barrie, Leonard A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.08.2006
• Subjects: Air Movements; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Environment; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - adverse effects; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollution - adverse effects; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Environmental Pollution - legislation & jurisprudence; Exact sciences and technology; Feasibility studies; International Cooperation; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; PCB; Pesticides; Pesticides - chemistry; Pollutants; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Quality Control; Volatilization; Ether; Pesticides; Troposphere; Flame retardant; Organic bromine compounds; Polychlorobiphenyl; Organic chlorine compounds; Time variation; Persistent organic pollutant; Passive detection; Spatial distribution; Surveillance; Organochlorine compounds; Seasonal variation; Polyurethane; Sampler; Foam(plastics); Planetary scale; Air pollution; Aromatic compound; Sampling; Organic compounds; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es060447t

The Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling (GAPS) study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using passive samplers to assess the spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants on a worldwide basis. The GAPS network includes more than 40 sites on 7 continents, mainly in background locations, with some representation of urban and agricultural areas. Here we present concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in polyurethane foam disk samplers, deployed from December 2004 to March 2005. Legacy OCPs such as α-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), Chlordanes (trans- and cis-Chlordane and trans-Nonachlor), Dieldrin, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane isomers were detected at most sites with some high values that may be related to possible continued use and/or re-emissions related to historic use. Geometric mean (GM) air concentrations (pg/m3) were:  8.5 for ΣHCH (sum of α- and γ-isomers), 2.6 for ΣChlordanes, 0.8 for Dieldrin, and 0.8 for p,p‘-DDE. Current-use pesticides such as γ-HCH (lindane) and especially Endosulfan I exhibited more variable and higher concentrations with GMs of 5 and 58, respectively. PCBs and PBDEs were elevated at urban/suburban sites consistent with their historical use pattern. GM concentrations (pg/m3) were 17 for PCBs and 4 for PBDEs. Sampling under GAPS will continue and will eventually allow seasonality effects and longer-term temporal and spatial trends to be evaluated.