The seasonal and spatial variation of persistent organic pollutants in the Arctic atmosphere
- Atmospheric Environment Service, North York, Ontario (Canada)
- Bovard-Concord Environmental, North York, Ontario (Canada)
- Fisheries and Oceans, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
Routine filter/PUF hivolume air samples taken at several locations in the Canadian and Russian Arctic throughout 1992 and 1993 were analyzed for approximately 80 organochlorines (including HCH, toxaphene, dieldrin, chlordane, HCB, PCBs endosulphan) and 20 PAHs. Results from Alert, N.W.T. (82.5{degree}N), Tagish Yukon (60{degree}N) and Dunai Island Russia (73{degree}N) are presented. Strong seasonal variations in concentration are observed at all locations. Most PAHs show a peak in the winter months coincident with the long range transport of pollution to the north that causes Arctic haze. For instance, BaP concentrations at Alert peak at 10 to 80 ng/m{sup 3} between November and February and are below detection limit (2 ng/m{sup 3}) from March to October. Total HCH concentration at Alert shows a double peak in April--May and in September--October averaging approximately 80 ng/m{sup 3}. The isomer composition of HCH also has a strong seasonality. The {gamma}/{alpha}-HCH ratio has a single peak at 0.4 during the April/May peak of total HCH that is super-imposed on a relatively constant background ratio of 0. 12 {+-} 0.03. The implications are that in spring a pulse of relatively y rich HCH is seen in the Arctic as a result of spring tilling of soils at mid-latitudes. Total-chlordane concentration and the cis/trans mass ratio of its isomers at Alert tend to peak in summer at approximately 2 ng/m{sup 3} and a ratio of 5, respectively. Total PCBs peak in April to August at concentrations of 120 to 280 ng/m{sup 3}. In winter, heavier congeners are relatively more abundant than during spring.
- OSTI ID:
- 211928
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9617%%244
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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