The identification and prioritisation of water bodies presenting elevated levels of anthropogenic chemicals is a key aspect of environmental monitoring programmes. Albeit this is challenging owing to geographical scales, choice of indicator aquatic species used for chemical monitoring, and inherent need for an understanding of contaminant fate and distribution in the environment. Here, we propose an innovative methodology for identifying and ranking water bodies according to their levels of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in water. This is based on a unique passive sampling dataset acquired over a 10-year period with silicone rubber exposures in surface water bodies across Europe. We show with these data that, far from point sources of contamination, levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) in water approach equilibrium with atmospheric concentrations near the air/water surface. This results in a relatively constant ratio of their concentrations in the water phase. This, in turn, allows us to (i) identify sites of contamination with either of the two chemicals when the HCB/PeCB ratio deviates from theory and (ii) define benchmark levels of other HOCs in surface water against those of HCB and/or PeCB. For two polychlorinated biphenyls (congener 28 and 52) used as model chemicals, differences in contamination levels between the more contaminated and pristine sites are wider than differences in HCB and PeCB concentrations endorsing the benchmarking procedure.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

The occurrence and atmospheric behavior of tri- to deca-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated during a 2-week campaign concurrently conducted in July 2012 at four background sites around the Aegean Sea. The study focused on the gas/particle (G/P) partitioning at three sites (Ag. Paraskevi/central Greece/suburban, Finokalia/southern Greece/remote coastal, and Urla/Turkey/rural coastal) and on the size distribution at two sites (Neochorouda/northern Greece/rural inland and Finokalia/southern Greece/remote coastal). The lowest mean total (G + P) concentrations of ∑7PBDE (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154) and BDE-209 (0.81 and 0.95 pg m-3, respectively) were found at the remote site Finokalia. Partitioning coefficients, K P, were calculated, and their linear relationships with ambient temperature and the physicochemical properties of the analyzed PBDE congeners, i.e., the subcooled liquid pressure (P L°) and the octanol-air partition coefficient (K OA), were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption (P L°-based) and absorption (K OA-based) models, as well as a steady-state absorption model including an equilibrium and a non-equilibrium term, both being functions of log K OA, were used to predict the fraction Φ of PBDEs associated with the particle phase. The steady-state model proved to be superior to predict G/P partitioning of BDE-209. The distribution of particle-bound PBDEs across size fractions < 0.95, 0.95-1.5, 1.5-3.0, 3.0-7.2, and > 7.2 μm indicated a positive correlation between the mass median aerodynamic diameter and log P L° for the less brominated congeners, whereas a negative correlation was observed for the high brominated congeners. The potential source regions of PBDEs were acknowledged as a combination of long-range transport with short-distance sources.

• Keywords
• Absorption/adsorption models, Aerosol mass size distribution, Gas/particle partitioning, Long-range transport,
• MeSH
• Adsorption MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Greece MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Air Pollutants MeSH

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied to determine occurrence, levels and spatial distribution in the marine atmosphere and surface seawater during cruises in the German Bight and the wider North Sea in spring and summer 2009-2010. In general, the concentrations found in air are similar to, or below, the levels at coastal or near-coastal sites in Europe. Hexachlorobenzene and α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) were close to phase equilibrium, whereas net atmospheric deposition was observed for γ-HCH. The results suggest that declining trends of HCH in seawater have been continuing for γ-HCH but have somewhat levelled off for α-HCH. Dieldrin displayed a close to phase equilibrium in nearly all the sampling sites, except in the central southwestern part of the North Sea. Here atmospheric deposition dominates the air-sea exchange. This region, close to the English coast, showed remarkably increased surface seawater concentrations. This observation depended neither on riverine input nor on the elevated abundances of dieldrin in the air masses of central England. A net depositional flux of p,p'-DDE into the North Sea was indicated by both its abundance in the marine atmosphere and the changes in metabolite pattern observed in the surface water from the coast towards the open sea. The long-term trends show that the atmospheric concentrations of DDT and its metabolites are not declining. Riverine input is a major source of PCBs in the German Bight and the wider North Sea. Atmospheric deposition of the lower molecular weight PCBs (PCB28 and PCB52) was indicated as a major source for surface seawater pollution.

• Keywords
• Air-sea exchange, North Sea, Organochlorine pesticides, Polychlorinated biphenyls,
• MeSH
• Atmosphere chemistry   MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Seawater chemistry   MeSH
• Pesticides analysis   MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls analysis   MeSH
• Air analysis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• England MeSH
• North Sea MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated MeSH
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Pesticides MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls MeSH

Semi-volatile organic compounds were monitored over a whole year, by collection of gas and particle phases every sixth day at a suburban site in Izmir, Turkey. Annual mean concentrations of 32 polychlorinated biphenyls (∑32PCBs) and 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑14PAHs) were 348 pg/m3 and 36 ng/m3, respectively, while it was 273 pg/m3 for endosulfan, the dominant compound among 23 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Monte Carlo simulation was applied to the USEPA exposure-risk models for the estimation of the population exposure and carcinogenic risk probability distributions for heating and non-heating periods. The estimated population risks associated with dermal contact and inhalation routes to ∑32PCBs, ∑14PAHs, and some of the targeted OCPs (α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, α-chlordane (α-CHL), γ-chlordane (γ-CHL), and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT)) were in the ranges of 1.86 × 10-16-7.29 × 10-9 and 1.38 × 10-10-4.07 × 10-6, respectively. The inhalation 95th percentile risks for ∑32PCBs, ∑14PAHs, and OCPs were about 6, 3, and 4-7 orders of magnitude higher than those of dermal route, respectively. The 95th percentile inhalation risk for ∑32PCBs and OCPs in the non-heating period were 1.8- and 1.2-4.6 folds higher than in the heating period, respectively. In contrast, the 95th percentile risk levels for ∑14PAHs in the heating period were 4.3 times greater than that of non-heating period for inhalation, respectively. While risk levels associated with exposure to PCBs and OCPs did not exceed the acceptable level of 1 × 10-6, it was exceeded for 47 % of the population associated with inhalation of PAHs with a maximum value of about 4 × 10-6.

• Keywords
• Carcinogenic risk *, Exposure *, OCPs *, PAHs *, PCBs *, Persistent organic pollutants *,
• MeSH
• Chlordan analysis   MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated analysis   MeSH
• DDT analysis   MeSH
• Endosulfan analysis   MeSH
• Heptachlor analysis   MeSH
• Hexachlorocyclohexane analysis   MeSH
• Carcinogens, Environmental analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Pesticides analysis   MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls analysis   MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis   MeSH
• Seasons * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Turkey MeSH
• Names of Substances
• alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane MeSH Browser
• beta-hexachlorocyclohexane MeSH Browser
• Chlordan MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated MeSH
• DDT MeSH
• Endosulfan MeSH
• Heptachlor MeSH
• Hexachlorocyclohexane MeSH
• Carcinogens, Environmental MeSH
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Pesticides MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH

In this study, PUF disk passive air samplers were deployed at eight sites, during two sampling periods, on the Island of Sicily in the Mediterranean basin. Samples were screened for a number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (n = 28 congeners), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) (n = 16 compounds), and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs n = 28) using GC-MS. PCB concentrations in air ranged ~10-300 pg m-3. The PCB pattern was dominated by lower to middle molecular weight PCBs (Cl3-5) and PCB-28 and PCB-52 were the most abundant congeners. α- and γ-Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) concentrations in air were relatively high ~420 ± 320 (50-1000) and 460 ± 340 (30-1000) pg m-3, respectively, with an average α/γ ratio of 1 ± 0.5, indicating a tendency of higher use of lindane than of technical HCH. Among DDTs, only p,p'-DDT 90 ± 15 (~10-800) and p,p'-DDE 60 ± 60 (20-400) were frequently detected. DDT/DDE = 0.4-3.0 (1.0 ± 0.7 for both periods) suggesting past and fresh inputs of DDT at the sampling sites. α-Endosulfan, recently included in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, fluctuated between 120 ± 50 (50-1000) pg m-3. In contrast, PBDE levels were very low (0.2-2 pg m-3). Back trajectories of advection suggest that POP levels are mainly related to local sources (primary or secondary) from Sicily (50-70 % contribution of air masses), Southern Italy, and Sardinia (20 %). This study provides new information for POP levels in the atmosphere of the Mediterranean region.

• Keywords
• Air back trajectories, Mediterranean, POPs, PUF disks, Passive samplers, The Island of Sicily,
• MeSH
• Atmosphere analysis   MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated analysis   MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring instrumentation   methods   MeSH
• Islands MeSH
• Pesticides analysis   MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls analysis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Islands MeSH
• Sicily MeSH
• Mediterranean Region MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Pesticides MeSH
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls MeSH