The effect of export to the deep sea on the long-range transport potential of persistent organic pollutants.
BACKGROUND
Export to the deep sea has been found to be a relevant pathway for highly hydrophobic chemicals. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of this process on the potential for long-range transport (LRT) of such chemicals.


METHODS
The spatial range as a measure of potential for LRT is calculated for seven PCB congeners with the multimedia fate and transport model ChemRange. Spatial ranges for cases with and without deep sea export are compared.


CONCLUSIONS
Export to the deep sea leads to increased transfer from the air to the surface ocean and, thereby, to lower spatial ranges for PCB congeners whose net deposition rate constant is similar to or greater than the atmospheric degradation rate constant. This is fulfilled for the PCB congeners 101, 153, 180, and 194. The spatial ranges of the congeners 8, 28, and 52, in contrast, are not affected by deep sea export. With export to the deep sea included in the model, the spatial ranges of the heavier congener are similar to those of the lighter ones, while the intermediate congeners 101 and 153 have the highest potential for long-range transport.


CONCLUSIONS
Transfer to the deep ocean affects the mass balance and the potential for LRT of highly hydrophobic chemicals and should be included in multimedia fate models containing a compartment for ocean water.
Scheringer
Martin
M
Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland. scheringer@tech.chem.ethz.ch
Stroebe
Maximilian
M
Wania
Frank
F
Wegmann
Fabio
F
Hungerbühler
Konrad
K
D000392:Air Movements; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls