Passive air sampling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated naphthalenes across europe

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 1355 - 1364
• Main Authors: Jaward, Foday M., Farrar, Nick J., Harner, Tom, Sweetman, Andrew J., Jones, Kevin C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.06.2004; SETAC
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Europe; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Global environmental pollution; Naphthalenes - analysis; Passive air sampling; Persistent organic pollutants; Pollution; Polychlorinated naphthalenes; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; Europe; Persistent organic pollutant; Naphthalene; Passive air sampling Persistent organic pollutants Europe Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Polychlorinated naphthalenes; Ecotoxicology; Atmosphere; Air pollution; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Sampling; Organic compounds; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1897/03-420

This study presents concurrently sampled ambient air data for a range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) at the continental scale. This was achieved with a passive air sampling system, by deploying polyurethane foam disks, which were prepared in one laboratory, sealed to prevent contamination, sent out by courier to volunteers participating in different countries, exposed for six weeks, collected, resealed, and returned to the laboratory for analysis. The study area was Europe, a region with a history of extensive persistent organic pollutants usage and emission, and with marked national differences in population density, the degree of urbanization and industrial and agricultural development. Samplers were deployed at remote, rural, and urban locations in 22 countries. Calculated air concentrations were broadly in line with those obtained by conventional active air sampling techniques, for both compound classes and for compounds existing predominantly in the gas and particle phases. The geographical compound distribution reflected suspected regional emission patterns and highlighted localized source areas. Both PAH and PCN levels varied by more than two orders of magnitude. The implications for sources are discussed.