On Zugspitze (2670 m a.s.l.), Alps, higher concentrations were observed during a winter than during a summer measurement campaign of PAHs, chlorobenzenes (43.6 vs. 2.0 pg m(-3)) and DDTs (3.7 vs. 1.2 pg m(-3)), while hexachlorocyclohexanes and PCBs were found at similar levels. The PCB, HCH and DDT levels are among the lowest ever reported from outside the Arctic. Mostly lower levels were found in samples collected in summer than in winter despite a significant boundary layer air influence, but no such influence on samples collected during the winter campaign. Boundary layer influence was quantified by Lagrangian particle dispersion model retroplume analyses. Photochemical lifetimes corresponding to k(OH) < 1.5 x 10(-12) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1) are found for p,p'-DDT, k(OH) < 0.75 x 10(-12) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1) for p,p'-DDE and k(OH) < 1.0 x 10(-12) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1) for p,p'-DDD.

Masaryk University Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Kamenice 3 62500 Brno Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Persistent organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in air of the North Sea region and air-sea exchange

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