title: Continental scale passive air sampling of persistent organic pollutants using rapidly equilibrating thin films (POGs).
abstract: A novel design of rapidly equilibrating passive air sampler was deployed at 38 sites across 19 European countries to investigate short-term spatial variability of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Devices were sealed in airtight containers to eliminate the possibility of contamination during transit and couriered to recipients with deployment instructions. Exposure times of 7days permitted the use of back trajectory analysis to further understand the factors responsible for influencing the large-scale spatial distribution of PCBs, PBDEs, PCNs, PAHs, lindane and HCB. Following sampler harvest, devices were sealed and returned for analysis. Comparison of sequestered levels showed that PAHs exhibited the greatest spatial variability (by a factor of 30) with higher levels often associated with greater population density. In contrast, HCB values were much more uniform, reflecting its well mixed distribution in the atmosphere. Spatial variation was strongly influenced by air mass origin, with lower levels being observed at most sites impacted by maritime air masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prevedouros
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harner
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sweetman
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005060:Europe; D005843:Geography; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000032:analysis; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls